This is a major twist in the Negreira affair! Since Spanish justice has not sanctioned FC Barcelona, Real Madrid has decided to refer this matter to UEFA, which concerns the relationship between the Catalan club and the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA).
“UEFA can confirm that it has received from Real Madrid CF a significant volume of documents relating to the ongoing investigation concerning FC Barcelona in the case involving Negreira, former vice-president of the Technical Commission of Referees of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (the so-called “Negreira affair”). UEFA Ethics and Discipline inspectors have also received these latest documents, which they will assess as part of their ongoing review of the case.indicates the European body in a press release.
Real suspects Barça of corruption
As a reminder, the case concerns payments totaling 7.4 million euros made by FC Barcelona to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018, when he was vice-president of the CTA. If Barça claims to have hired Negreira for technical reports concerning arbitration, the Catalan club’s rivals suspect influence peddling.
Real Madrid explained their approach in a press release:
“ The complaint filed by our club includes extensive documentation and evidence regarding events of exceptional seriousness, which directly affect the integrity of the competition and confidence in the refereeing system.
Real Madrid CF considers it essential that, now that UEFA has these documents, the investigation continues with the greatest urgency until its complete conclusion, and that the competent authorities take the appropriate decisions based on the seriousness of the facts verified.
Our club will continue to actively collaborate with UEFA and take all measures in its power to clarify events that it considers incompatible with the principles of integrity, transparency and fair play which must govern European football. »
