UEFA to investigate Barcelona for its referee payments
GENEVA: Barcelona are facing a new legal threat from UEFA, including a possible Champions League ban, because of their payments of millions of dollars to a company linked to a Spanish refereeing official. The European soccer body asked Thursday for an investigation into the matter, which is already being pursued by prosecutors in Spain. Champions League regulations in effect since April 2007 allow for clubs to be removed from European competitions if they were involved in fixing matches.