Playing in the UEFA Champions League is a dream for most footballers and their clubs. As the most prestigious club competition in the world, second only to the FIFA World Cup in global allure, it represents the pinnacle of European football.
But for a few clubs, that dream has been snatched away not by sporting failure, but by disciplinary action.
Over the years, four clubs have faced bans from participating in the Champions League, a punishment that not only sidelines them from glory but can also impact their financial and sporting futures. Here’s a look at the teams that were barred from Europe’s grandest stage.