Barcelona risk UCL ban as UEFA open investigation over LaLiga referee chief payments

European football’s governing body, UEFA, announced that they will investigate Spanish club Barcelona over payments made to the former vice president of LaLiga’s referee governing body, Enriquez Negreira. 

Barcelona is currently facing legal proceedings in Spain concerning payments made to Negreira’s company over the course of several years that totalled more than €7 million. 

LaLiga already said that it would not bring any sporting sanctions on the club as a result of the payments, but UEFA have now decided to conduct their own investigations to find out if Barcelona are in breach of any of its rules concerning ethics towards referees. 

UEFA said in their statement, “In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have today been appointed to conduct an investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework by FC Barcelona in connection with the so-called ‘Caso Negreira’. 

“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”

While UEFA do not specify what punishments could be brought upon the Catalan Giants, it is expected that any disciplinary action taken will be a stiff one. 

UEFA and Barcelona do not see eye-to-eye as the Spaniards are still championing the cause for the European Super League which will undermine UEFA’s club competitions. 

Barcelona currently lead LaLiga by 12 points, but their season has still been shrouded in off-pitch issues, including financial restrictions by LaLiga, the inability to register players or renew contracts, and most recently, the Nergreira case.