UEFA have confirmed receipt of a “large quantity of documents” submitted by Real Madrid in relation to the ongoing investigation into Barcelona over the so-called Negreira case.
European football’s governing body has acknowledged that its ethics and disciplinary inspectors have obtained the dossier to review as part of their broader monitoring of the Catalan club, which follows months of pressure from the Real hierarchy.
Barcelona have now responded, saying they are complying with the proceedings.
What is the Negreira case?
The Negreira case is an ongoing investigation centred around payments of €7million made by Barca to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Spanish referees’ committee (CTA), between 2001 and 2018.
Madrid believe they led to on-field decisions in favour of Barcelona.
Barca insist there was no wrongdoing and claim the payments were made to Negreira to act as a consultant on the technical aspects of refereeing.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez previously confirmed the preparation of an extensive 500-page dossier
after calling the controversy “the biggest case of corruption in history,” with Madrid subsequently submitting a formal request demanding the resumption of disciplinary proceedings against their rivals on the grounds that the allegations pose an “extremely serious danger to the integrity of competitions.”
The latest development comes amid improved institutional relations between Madrid, UEFA, and the European Club Association, with the Spanish giants keen to ensure the issue is rigorously assessed internationally amid frustration over a perceived lack of traction domestically.
While UEFA reiterated that receipt of the dossier does not constitute the opening of formal disciplinary proceedings or immediate sanctions, it ensures Madrid’s evidence is now under formal examination by UEFA inspectors under the Article 31(4) inquiry originally opened in March 2023.
At the centre of the dispute are historic payments exceeding €7.5m made between 2001 and 2018 to companies linked to former refereeing official José María Enríquez Negreira, an affair that has previously raised questions over potential competitive bans.
Barcelona continue to strongly refute any wrongdoing while maintaining the fees were strictly for legitimate external technical reports and advisory work on refereeing tendencies.
What have Barcelona said?
In a fresh statement on Thursday, the club said:
“UEFA has not opened any new proceedings against FC Barcelona. The proceedings were initiated in 2023, with the appointment of two investigators who have since carried out the action they deemed appropriate. The Club has always complied with all their requests. These proceedings have not been reopened because they have never been closed.
“The UEFA statement confirms receipt of documentation submitted by Real Madrid and indicates that the investigators will assess it within the framework of the existing investigation. The same text expressly refers, on two occasions, to an investigation and a review that are “ongoing.” It therefore does not announce the opening, reopening, or reactivation of any proceedings, nor does it contain any assessment of the substance or value of the documentation provided.
“It is up to the investigators to determine what action, if any, they consider appropriate regarding this documentation. As of today, they have not made 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 up to now.
“In accordance with the applicable legislation governing this matter, these proceedings are subject to the outcome of the criminal case currently being heard in Spain and will continue to be so.”
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