In relation to the Negreira case, Investigative Court No. 1 in Barcelona has accused FC Barcelona of “active bribery.”
Allegedly, the club paid former referee chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira for privileged information, including referee analyses.
Negreira admitted receiving payments from past presidents for “technical advice” to favor Barcelona in refereeing decisions. Club president Joan Laporta strongly denies allegations of match-fixing or bribery, insisting that obtaining referee consulting isn’t illegal.
Spanish authorities raided the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) as part of the investigation. FC Barcelona is accused of paying Negreira for referee insights over an 18-year period, ceasing after Negreira resigned as vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees.
The payments increased significantly during this time, suggesting a link to favorable arbitration outcomes for Barcelona. The situation implies potential corruption in Spanish arbitration affecting other teams.
Negreira reportedly threatened to expose damaging information about the club if the payments were discontinued. Club manager Xavi Hernandez refrained from commenting on the ongoing probe, focusing on team performance and upcoming matches.
