Barcelona finds itself at the center of a serious match-fixing investigation, with allegations stemming from their 2023 Europa League knockout match against Manchester United.
The controversy revolves around a penalty awarded to Manchester United in the second leg at Old Trafford on February 23, 2023. With the aggregate score tied at 2-2, United striker Marcus Rashford went down under minimal contact from Barcelona defender Jules Koundé inside the box. Referee Clément Turpin immediately pointed to the spot, and Bruno Fernandes converted the penalty to give United a 3-2 aggregate lead. The English side would go on to win the match 2-1 (4-3 on aggregate).
According to a report by the Spanish radio station Cadena SER, an investigation by UEFA and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is examining suspicious betting patterns linked to that specific penalty incident. The report states that a significant and unusual volume of bets were placed on a penalty being awarded during the match, with a particular focus on the timeframe when the Rashford incident occurred.
The investigation is reportedly looking into potential links between these bets and Barcelona. The Catalan club has firmly denied any wrongdoing. In an official statement, Barcelona said, “FC Barcelona roundly denies any participation in or relation to alleged acts of corruption related to a Europa League match. The club will take all necessary legal actions to defend its honor and interests.”
This is not the first time Barcelona has been scrutinized for its financial dealings with referees. The club is already facing separate charges of alleged corruption for payments made over 17 years to the former vice-president of Spain’s refereeing committee, José María Enríquez Negreira. A Barcelona court is investigating those payments, totaling over €7 million, made between 2001 and 2018.
The new allegations add another layer of complexity to Barcelona’s ongoing legal challenges. UEFA has not yet made any official comment on the status of the investigation into the 2023 match. The outcome could have significant sporting and reputational consequences for the club if any evidence of manipulation is found.
