The second-leg loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night means FC Barcelona’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League, which will affect the Blaugrana team as they prepare for next season.
Barcelona will participate in the new Champions League for the 2024-25 season. Still, the red cards given to Ronald Araujo and manager Xavi Hernandez mean the two men must face the consequences of their actions.
Mundo Deportivo relays the information, noting that the Uruguayan will definitely miss one match due to his expulsion. But it could be two if the referee’s report notes his hand gesture as he left the field.
According to Article 15 of the same Code, UEFA’s Ethics and Disciplinary Committee could consider this hand gesture “unsporting behavior” punishable by another match suspension. In that case, the Barcelona defender would miss the first two matches of the next phase of the Champions League.
Regarding Xavi, if he’s still coaching Barcelona next season or another club in the Champions League, the Spanish tactician will be suspended for one match due to his red card. However, he could also face a multiple-game suspension if the referee’s report includes abusive language or even insults from the Barcelona coach toward the head referee.
In this case, the punishment could range from two to three matches, hence the importance of what the referee includes in their match report.
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