Why Real Madrid and Barcelona could be banned from playing in the Champions League

Real Madrid and Barcelona are in danger of being expelled from next season’s Champions League because of the Spanish government’s attempts to interfere with the running of the RFEF. The Spanish Soccer Federation has been rocked by yet another scandal in recent weeks and has yet to appoint a permanent new president following the departure of the disgraced Luis Rubiales.

Bayern Munich – Real Madrid

UEFA and FIFA unimpressed by RFEF interference

José Manuel Rodríguez-Uribes, the president of Spain’s Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD, the Supreme Sports Council) had sent a letter to both UEFA and FIFA explaining why government intervention was required as the RFEF battles allegations of corruption. However, that hasn’t gone down at all well with either the European or world governing bodies, who believe a line has been crossed and that Spanish soccer must now face the consequences, AS has learned.

UEFA and FIFA had previously addressed a joint letter, signed by general secretaries Mattias Grafström and Theodore Theodoridis, to Rodríguez-Uribes last week, questioning why a CSD Commission felt the need to meddle in the RFEF’s business and warning they would not stand for any form of political interference.

Friday is the deadline for the CSD to respond to the following questions posed by UEFA and FIFA:

• On what legal and/or factual basis was the Commission appointed?
• Who makes up the Commission and who appointed its members?
• What is the Commission’s exact mandate?
• What power does the Commission have?
• What relationship does the Commission have with the statutory decision-making bodies in the RFEF?

What could happen next?

The story could continue in two separate ways.

The governing bodies could decide the CSD’s explanation is satisfactory, which would imply UEFA and FIFA closely following the situation but refraining from taking any action against them.

Alternatively, it could be interpreted that political interference has taken place and that the RFEF has effectively been taken over by the government.

In the latter of the two cases, there could be severe consequences for Spanish soccer. The RFEF would be almost immediately suspended by both UEFA and FIFA, with Spanish representatives expelled from both bodies’ competitions.

Madrid and Barça in danger of Champions League expulsion

That means Spain wouldn’t take part in the 2024 European Championship or the Olympic Games (neither the men’s nor women’s teams), and Spanish clubs wouldn’t be able to participate in next season’s Champions League, Europa League or Conference League, or the FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States in the summer of 2025.

That, of course, would include Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Could Spain miss out on hosting the 2030 World Cup?

Spain would also be ruled out of hosting the 2030 World Cup. Although the tournament is due to be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco (with three matches taking place in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay), the decision has not yet been completely ratified.

The belief in Switzerland, where FIFA’s headquarters are located, is that Portugal and Morocco are perfectly capable of hosting the tournament on their own, without Spain.

The next week will be pivotal for the future of Spanish soccer. Neither UEFA nor FIFA approves of the CSD’s stance and they hope the threat of sanctions will force the Spanish government to back down.

The governing bodies have previously taken a hard line against countries based on their political activity. Russia missed out on the chance to host Euro 2028 and Russian clubs were banned from European competition following the nation’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.