Barcelona Faces Biggest Setback Ever As UEFA Ditches Them Out Of The Champions League Amidst Scandal
Sports
The latest twist from UEFA on Barcelona disrupts Champions League plans.
EUROPEAN football'S governing body has taken another crack at kicking Barcelona out of the Champions League following a shock turn of events following their 2-1 win over Valencia.
Barcelona were slated to host Valencia for the second leg of their last-16 tie at the Camp Nou but will now be playing away from home instead due to the Catalan region being subjected to strict lockdowns and restrictions regarding travel, it was announced on Tuesday evening.
As a result, the match was rescheduled for October 15. On Monday, UEFA also revealed that UEFA president Michael Platini had recommended that Barcelona be disqualified from the competition as punishment for failing to meet the criteria for taking part in the competition following the vote at the club's annual general assembly.
But after an astonishing turn of events, fans were shocked to learn that Platini may have been incorrect when he suggested that the club could face suspension if they fail to qualify next season. Barcelona played some of the most mesmerizing football in European history against Valencia and came away with all three points thanks to Lionel Messi's first goal in five months and his side managed to record a thrilling victory.
But despite their excellent performance, Barcelona are expected to face some problems if they wish to take part in the competition next year when the window opens again. According to a report by ESPN FC, it is likely that Barcelona's failure to qualify for the Champions League next season will force them to play the entire campaign in the Europa League, possibly resulting in the title sponsor, Italian beverage giant Coca-Cola, leaving the tournament early.
This news has not only impacted Barcelona's prospects in the competition but also their chances of winning the Spanish league this term. With one game remaining in their season, Barcelona are still third in the table behind rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, respectively. However, a win would give them a commanding lead over both teams, which means they would have secured their domestic crown already if they continue to take on Valencia at home this Friday.
The last meeting between these two clubs was one of the most intense matches ever in the UEFA Champions League as Barcelona won 2-1 thanks to Messi scoring from the penalty spot before converting the second to secure the victory. The two sides faced each other earlier in the campaign, drawing 0-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid.
Such a scandal would not just affect Barcelona fans, but the entire club. The reason? Messi has been linked to a £750,000 a week offer from Chinese club Shanghai SIPG but Barcelona refused to let him join the team because of the situation with Lionel Messi and Barcelona.
So after the thrilling match against Valencia, the club's president Josep Bartomeu stated: "We want to thank Platini for his intervention because it is absolutely clear that we are going to do everything to keep our ambitions intact. In the next few days we will talk about what we can do for the future and ensure that everybody's rights are respected."
A decision was made by the Club and the UEFA president, which was that the whole matter was subject to the final opinion of the UEFA Executive Committee on Monday. Barcelona may face another setback later in the summer and make it all the way to September 14 if Barcelona lose to Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid respectively which means the team should beat Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid within the remaining two games.
So the pressure is immense on Barcelona. With such strong opposition coming their way, they must make sure they win this game to ensure that everything goes well for the team during the remainder of the season and into the Champions League next year.
