Barça get Champions League green light as UEFA opt against sanctions over referee payments case
Catalan club will be in pot one for next season's competition but criminal case remains ongoing
FC Barcelona will be able to play in the Champions League next season, as UEFA have confirmed they will not sanction the Catalan club over the referee payments scandal known as the 'Negreira case.'
The club were under investigation from European football's governing association, and their place in the continent's premiere competition next season was up in the air pending results of what UEFA would find regarding the case.
However, it's now been confirmed that Barça will indeed be in pot one of the draw on August 31 as there will be no sporting punishment from UFEA at this moment.
Separately, the criminal investigation in Catalan courts is still ongoing, without a timeframe set for any outcome of that.
Magistrates are investigating charges of corruption over €7.2 million payments that FC Barcelona made to José María Enríquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018 while he was the vice-president of the referees' technical committee.
Barcelona have always denied any wrongdoing with regards the payments, instead explaining that they were made for technical reports on referees of upcoming games of the club.