Barcelona reportedly set to be banned from the Champions League
Barcelona could be on the verge of being banned from the Champions League and all UEFA competitions, despite winning La Liga.
Last summer Barcelona pulled several 'financial levers' in a desperate attempt to sign the players they needed to challenge for European honours and make sure they remained in the Champions League in future seasons.
They managed the second part of that as they lead the league for most of the season and ended up as La Liga champions, currently sitting 11 points clear of closest rivals Real Madrid.
However their European adventure failed twice in succession as they finished third in their group behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, before losing in the Europa League play-off round to Manchester United.
Advert
Despite success on the pitch in the league it has still been a tumultuous season for the Catalan giants off the pitch, facing charges of corruption.
It's to do with payments to a company linked with referees in Spain, although the club have continued to deny any wrongdoing in the matter.
They face the potential of being relegated should they be found guilty in their country but UEFA are also in the middle of their own investigation.
According to Spanish outlet ABS, two UEFA investigators have concluded that the club should be banned from European competitions next season.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is said to already have seen the report and is now just waiting to make a decision on the case.
The European football governing body could chose to announce their punishment without waiting for the Spanish justice system's decision on the case.
On the other hand they may wait to see if Barca are found guilty of corruption before passing down their own judgement, which could even lead to a harsher punishment.
Right now UEFA representatives Jean Samuel Leuba and Mirjam Koller are only suggesting that the club be banned from the competitions for one year.
Missing out on European football would cost the club a guaranteed figure of around €50 million, plus any additional money for how far they go in the competition.
That could massively impact how much they can spend this summer or in the future, especially as they attempt to re-sign Lionel Messi.
Topics: Football, La Liga, UEFA, Champions League, Spain, FC Barcelona
Ryan Sidle