The response from FC Barcelona was not long in coming. Less than an hour after the press releases from UEFA and Real Madrid on the sending of documents from the Merengue club on the Negreira affair to the European body, Barça counterattacks. “ In response to the information published regarding the alleged reactivation of the UEFA procedure in the Negreira affair, FC Barcelona would like to provide the following clarifications: UEFA has not opened any new procedure against FC Barcelona. The procedure was initiated in 2023, with the appointment of two investigators who have since carried out the actions they deemed appropriate. The club has always complied with all their requests. This procedure has not been reopened because it was never closed », First indicates the Blaugrana club in a note published on its site.
“ The UEFA press release confirms receipt of the documents transmitted by Real Madrid and indicates that investigators will examine them as part of the ongoing investigation. This same text expressly refers, on two occasions, to an investigation and review which are “ongoing”. It therefore does not announce the opening, reopening or reactivation of any procedure, and does not contain any assessment as to the substance or value of the documents provided. It is up to investigators to determine what action, if any, they deem appropriate regarding these documents. To date, they have not sent any new requests to FC Barcelona nor have they forwarded Real Madrid’s complaint to the Club. Should they do so, the Club will respond accordingly, as it has done so far. In accordance with the applicable legislation in this matter, this procedure is subject to the outcome of the criminal case currently underway in Spain and will remain so. Since the investigation began, FC Barcelona has continued to obtain its UEFA license without objection and has participated in UEFA competitions. (…) FC Barcelona reaffirms its full cooperation with the competent authorities and calls for rigor and precision in the media coverage of this procedure. »
