Barcelona Could Face European Ban if Found Guilty of Latest Referee Payment Allegations

• Barcelona could be banned from all European competition if found guilty by UEFA for misconduct
• Reports emerged that Barcelona paid the former Vice President of the Referee's Committee over 3 years
• La Liga are unable to take action against Barcelona but UEFA can still do something going forward

Imagine European football without the might of Barcelona in it.

That could become a possibility in the future if Barcelona are guilty of any wrongdoing in the latest scandal to engulf the club.

What did Barcelona do?

As noted by Marca, the Spanish club are accused of paying approximately €1,4 million to Enriquez Negreira’s company, Dansil 95. The payments were made over a period of 3 years, while Negreira was the Vice-President of the Referees Committee in La Liga. Payments were made to the company in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

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What were the payments for?

Barcelona maintains that the payments were made for technical advice and that it was a regular service for a club to pay for. The payments were made directly to the company, not Negeira’s personal account, but he is the company's sole owner.

UEFA could take action

Football Espana confirmed that La Liga are unable to do anything as more than three years have passed since the incident. However, UEFA could still do something. European football’s governing body has the power to ban Barcelona from European competitions if they are found guilty of paying for favours from referees during games.

What are the chances?

UEFA have a tough time on their hands proving that Barcelona received favours from referees during that three-year period. Without substantial evidence that Barca were guilty, UEFA, like La Liga, will be unable to take action against Joan Laporta’s side.

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Barcelona escape La Liga punishment

La Liga president, Javier Tebas has clarified that FC Barcelona will not be punished over the alleged payments to former vice-president of the Referees’ Committee, Enriquez Negreira.

Reports on February 15 claimed the Catalan giants made payments close to €1.4 million to the official for advisory services.

The reports further claim that Negreira was paid through a company he owned known as Dansil 95 SL, Sports Brief previously reported.