UEFA: FC Barcelona provisionally authorised to participate in the 2023-24 Champions League

"FC Barcelona (LaLiga EA Sports) is provisionally admitted to take part in the 2023-24 UEFA club competitions," announced the European body on 27/07/2023. As Spanish champions in 2022-23, the club has qualified for the group stage of the Champions League 2023-24 (draw on Thursday 31/08/2023).

UEFA's decision follows its investigation into the 'Negreira case', in which the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office announced its intention to prosecute former Barcelona executives, including former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu (2014-2020) and Sandro Rosell (2010-2014), for "sporting corruption, breach of trust and forgery."

The Public Prosecutor's Office investigation was opened in May 2022 following alleged tax irregularities committed by the company DASNIL 95 SL, owned by José Maria Enríquez Negreira, former vice-president of the Spanish Technical Committee of Referees (CTA). Payments made by the club - almost €7m between 2001 and 2018 - are said to have accounted for 95% of the company's total turnover, suggesting that the sole purpose of the company was to collect money from the club…