Spanish giants FC Barcelona could face a hefty fine and a potential ban from the UEFA Champions League for failure to comply with UEFA's financial constraints. The Spanish giants reported a 304 million EUR profit last year after activating several 'levers', but they could still fall short of the minimum requirements set forth by UEFA. Should that transpire, according to a new report, the European football body can disqualify and ban Barcelona from all of their flagship tournaments - the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Europa Conference League. (Football News)
The news of Barcelona's potential ban from the Champions League comes in the wake of a European Court of Justice ruling that paved the way for the European Super League to return. Pitched as a club-led competition, the Super League aims to displace the UEFA Champions League and has received ample support from Barcelona and their bitter rivals Real Madrid since its attempted launch in 2021.
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Following the ECJ verdict, which labelled FIFA and UEFA's attempts to thwart the Super League unlawful, Barcelona released a statement, reiterating their backing of the project. Rumours also circulated that the two Spanish giants could be granted a hefty 'loyalty bonus' should the competition come into existence.
“The sentence paves the way for a new elite-level football competition in Europe by opposing the monopoly over the football world and wishes to initiate new discussions as to the path that European competitions should take in the future. The club feels that the medium-term sustainability of European football entails the need (to) create a concept along the lines of the Super League proposed by A22," the club said in a statement.
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One of Europe's most prestigious clubs, FC Barcelona have won the UEFA Champions League five times, the last of those triumphs coming in 2014-15, when the Spanish giants boasted a front three of Neymar Jr, Luis Suarez, and Lionel Messi. Messi alone won four Champions League titles when at the club, but failed to do so again after 2015 until his untimely departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
Four of Barcelona's five Champions League triumphs have occurred after the turn of the century (2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, and 2014-15), with the only other win coming in 1991-92.
Meanwhile, in another development, it was reported that current La Liga leaders Girona might face trouble getting into the UEFA Champions League, should they succeed in holding down one of the top four spots. Girona and Manchester share the same ownership, the City Football Group, while UEFA only permits one club per owner in their flagship tournaments.
CFG's share in Girona, however, amounts to a minority stake, which may allow the Spanish minnows to pass through the regulations.
