Barcelona Faces Legal Scrutiny in ‘Negreira’ Case

The ‘Negreira’ case has emerged as one of the most prominent legal controversies in football in recent years. FC Barcelona stands accused of disbursing €8 million to José María Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees in Spain (CTA), from 2001 to 2018 for presumably unethical purposes.

In October, a court in Barcelona issued a formal order instructing the club to provide all contracts and supporting documents pertinent to the ongoing investigation. Reports from El Mundo indicate that investigators have been unable to locate the original agreements or any written records within Barcelona’s archives that would confirm the alleged payments for “refereeing advisory” services. This lack of documentation has intensified suspicions regarding the club’s relationship with Negreira.

The court’s directive extends beyond the collection of administrative records; Barcelona has also been summoned to present testimony as a legal entity. Former coaches Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde, along with the current club president Joan Laporta, are scheduled to testify on November 25.

In remarks made on Catalunya Radio, Laporta stated: “The meeting was proper, respectful, and harmonious. We’ve never been married, so a divorce isn’t possible. Relations are strained because they have appeared in the Negreira case, presenting irrelevant and inconclusive evidence. The ongoing case must be of some interest to them. We find it unsatisfactory, and it creates a tense environment. We are eternal rivals, but we approach this with respect. I have chosen not to delve into the issue of the match in Miami against Villarreal, as we faced opposition from the AFE (Spanish Footballers’ Association) and other clubs from the outset. I do not believe that the competition will be compromised.”

Seeking to address the situation, Real Madrid acted swiftly, convening a board meeting in March 2023 as allegations against Barcelona escalated. As reported by Marca in September, Real Madrid is committed to pursuing the Negreira case to its fullest extent, seeking consequences wherever necessary. The club believes that a longstanding culture of bias exists against them, and they deem sanctions against Barcelona essential for the integrity of both Real Madrid and Spanish football.

Real Madrid TV, the club’s official media channel, has ramped up its coverage of the case, airing a series of reports that underscore what it considers years of unfair treatment. These broadcasts have analyzed data regarding the distribution of yellow and red cards in matches involving both Barcelona and Real Madrid, reflecting an ongoing editorial line that the channel has adopted.

Recently, Madrid lodged an official complaint with FIFA centered on alleged inconsistencies in officiating, pointing to incidents such as Arda Güler’s disallowed goal, marginal offside calls against Kylian Mbappé, and Dean Huijsen’s red card in a match against Real Sociedad. Club president Florentino Pérez has called for international oversight, arguing that the credibility of domestic officiating has been compromised.

When questioned about the matter, head coach Xabi Alonso recognized the legitimacy of defending the club’s interests but cautioned against allowing refereeing controversies to dominate discussions. “It’s legitimate to defend our interests, and as long as the club does so, that is acceptable. However, I don’t want the refereeing issue to overshadow our focus. Let’s concentrate on the future. The Anoeta incident has been discussed sufficiently,” he remarked.

The complaint also references the Negreira case, asserting that the scandal continues to erode confidence in Spanish refereeing, particularly as many current officials began their careers under Negreira’s tenure.

After attending a hearing in September, former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell criticized Real Madrid for escalating the issue to FIFA while defending the Catalan club. “A gentleman’s club should have accepted this and not prolonged it as they are attempting to do to divert attention from other matters,” he remarked. “After four league games, they have already complained to FIFA about the officiating. Where is Mr. Negreira now?

“Here, they can assert that we are closing the case because the evidence supports the accused… and that should be the end of it. Let’s all sit down and re-watch the games together. I would relish that opportunity. Perhaps some individuals wouldn’t be as eager to revisit those matches. But the reality is, sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose, and acceptance is paramount.”