Three years after the Negreira case initially surfaced, Barcelona and Real Madrid remain embroiled in the controversy. Barcelona faces accusations of several criminal offenses related to payments made to Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees, with a legal case currently in progress.
One of the charges brought against Barcelona is sporting corruption. In a letter that has been made public by Xavier Estrada Fernández, Real Madrid has formally accused their rivals of precisely this alleged wrongdoing.
The letter states: “Given the general tone in the statements of the referees and former referees, it was that the system of control and evaluation of the performance of the referees, in which Mr. Enríquez Negreira had a special role, was arbitrary and perverted, the promotion and professional career of the referees depending on the mere will of those responsible for the CTA. Certainly, the incriminating elements that already existed when the Order of 14/3/2024 was issued, plus various additional elements that have been added as the police investigation progressed, amply justify the continuation of the present procedure by the procedures of the Abbreviated Procedure, and they undoubtedly allow us to enunciate a continued behaviour of sports corruption, with criminal roots and attributable to all those investigated.”
Barcelona Continues to Deny Any Wrongdoing
Throughout the past three years, Barcelona has consistently denied any illicit activity concerning their payments to Negreira. The club maintains that these payments were for referee scouting reports, which were received by Carles Naval, the club’s match delegate.
The legal proceedings have been underway for two years, and a resolution does not appear imminent. The uncertainty surrounding the matter persists, with Real Madrid remaining central to the case due to their intention to be recognized as an injured party in the proceedings against Barcelona.
