Real Madrid has called on UEFA to finalize its investigation into the Negreira affair with “utmost urgency” after the European governing body confirmed receipt of a comprehensive dossier from the Spanish club on Thursday.
The case centers on allegations that FC Barcelona paid more than 7.3 million euros ($7.95 million) between 2001 and 2018 to companies owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice president of the Spanish football refereeing committee. Real Madrid accuses the Catalan club of using these funds to influence match officials, while Barcelona denies any wrongdoing, maintaining that the payments were legitimate fees for refereeing reports and advice.
UEFA stated that its Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have received the extensive documentation and will assess it as part of their ongoing review. The probe, launched in 2023, previously determined in June of that year that Barcelona would face no sanctions, allowing the club to continue participating in European competitions.
Spanish media reports indicate that Real Madrid is demanding Barcelona be stripped of nine titles won during the period in question. The Madrid-based club joined a criminal complaint filed by Spanish prosecutors, who charged Barcelona, former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, Negreira, and his son Javier with corruption, fraudulent management, and falsification of commercial documents.
In response to UEFA’s announcement, Barcelona clarified that the proceedings have never been closed and thus were not reopened. The club stated it has not received new requests or the complaint from Real Madrid, adding that it would respond appropriately should such documents be forwarded.
Tensions between the two rivals are extending beyond football ethics. Reports suggest that Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez have been summoned to a Madrid court on November 25 for a conciliation hearing. This follows a lawsuit launched by Barcelona against Perez for defamation regarding comments he made in May, in which he described the affair as “the most serious case of corruption in football” and claimed titles were stolen from Real Madrid.
The two teams are scheduled to meet in the first leg of El Clasico on October 25. While the ongoing legal and ethical disputes will not affect the match schedule, they are expected to add significant drama to one of football’s most intense rivalries.
The upcoming Clasico cannot possibly feel normal with both presidents facing court. Football is losing its neutrality.
Barcelona claims the payments were legitimate fees. Why did top referees suddenly start praising their style of play every season then?
Nine titles stripped? That would rewrite history completely. Hope UEFA has the spine to follow through this time.
50,000 pages? That is not evidence, it is a brick wall designed to delay justice for years.