Osasuna the latest Spanish side to be banned from European competition | OneFootball

Osasuna have been dealt a blow by being excluded from the Conference League in 2023-24. The La Liga club have confirmed in a statement that the UEFA Appeals Committee has ruled that they will not participate in the next edition of the Conference League.

The decision was taken after the club’s involvement in match-fixing in the 2013-14 season. AS report that Osasuna have announced that they will appeal to CAS and have not ruled out going to the court.

They are not the first Spanish team to be excluded by UEFA from participating in its competitions for non-sporting reasons. In 2010, Mallorca finished in sixth place in the league table, which gave them access to the Europa League, but they were prevented from participating in the competition due to financial problems. The Balearic club had debt of close to €70 million and Villarreal took their place.

In 2013, UEFA denied access to two Spanish teams. Málaga were banned from playing Europa League football for 2013-14 and in the following three seasons, in addition to a fine of €300,000 for non-payments and non-compliance with Financial Fair Play. Coached by Manuel Pellegrini and with players including Isco and Joaquín, they had the best year in the club’s history reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League and finishing sixth in La Liga, but were left without European football for the following season.

Málaga’s place was originally destined for Rayo Vallecano, who finished eighth in the season. The Madrid-based club were also in insolvency proceedings and UEFA stripped them of their European licence, which cut short their dream of a return to Europe. In the end, it was Sevilla who took the place, even though they finished the season in ninth. The Andalusian side went on to win the competition after beating Portuguese giants Benfica on penalties.

Kieran Quaile | GSFN