Barcelona: UEFA confirms investigation into Spanish club over payments to former referees' official
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 23/03/2023 at 15:50 GMT
The Negreira case in Spain surrounding La Liga giants Barcelona has developed further with official confirmation coming from European governing body UEFA that it will be investigating the situation. Barcelona have been indicted by the public prosecutor's office but the club deny any wrongdoing. Former Barca presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, as well as Negreira, have been indicted.
general view inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League group F match between Slavia Praha and FC Barcelona at Eden Stadium on October 23, 2019 in Prague,
Image credit: Getty Images
UEFA is to investigate payments made by Barcelona to a former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee.
As part of its investigation, European football's governing body has appointed ethics and disciplinary inspectors as prosecutors allege the Spanish club paid over €7 million to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira and his Dasnil 95 company.
The statement from UEFA read: "Ethics and disciplinary inspectors have been appointed to conduct an investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA's legal framework by FC Barcelona in connection with the so-called 'Caso Negreira'."
That followed a statement from the public prosecutor's office, which read: "FC Barcelona obtained and maintained a strictly confidential verbal agreement with Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira so that, in his capacity as vice-president of the technical arbitral committee (CTA) and in exchange for money, the latter carries out actions tending to benefit FC Barcelona in decisions by the referees."
Barcelona deny any wrongdoing but acknowledge that the payments were made to Dasnil 95 between 2001 and 2018.
The company is referred to by Barcelona as "an external technical consultant" asked to produce video reports around refereeing "with the aim of complementing the information required by the coaching staff".
The lawsuits were brought by the Barcelona public prosecutor's office with the payments having come to light following an investigation by tax authorities into Dasnil 95. The payments were initially revealed by radio station Ser Catalunya and Barcelona issued a response on February 15.
Real Madrid have said that "in defence of its legitimate rights, it will appear at the trial when the judge opens it up to the affected parties", while La Liga chief executive Javier Tebas has said Barcelona president Joan Laporta should resign if he cannot provide an appropriate explanation for the payments.
In response, Laporta said in late February: "That is for the club's members to decide. Anyone who tries to tarnish the history and image of Barcelona will receive a strong response."
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement