Real Madrid dossier intensifies Barcelona integrity dispute
UEFA will assess a substantial dossier submitted by Real Madrid in the Negreira case, while Barcelona insist the material forms part of an existing investigation and does not represent new proceedings.
Real Madrid have submitted extensive documentation to UEFA over Barcelona’s payments to former Spanish refereeing official José María Enríquez Negreira, seeking a conclusion to an investigation with implications for competition integrity and football governance.UEFA has confirmed receipt of the material and referred it to its ethics and disciplinary inspectors, while Barcelona have rejected suggestions that the submission has triggered a new or reopened case.UEFA said: “UEFA can confirm that it has received from Real Madrid CF a substantial amount of documents related to the ongoing investigation into FC Barcelona in the matter involving José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (the so-called ‘Negreira matter’).“The UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have also received these latest documents which they will assess as part of their ongoing review.”The case concerns approximately €8.4m paid by Barcelona to Negreira between 2001 and 2018, when he held a senior position within Spain’s refereeing structure, with the payments coming to light during a tax investigation.Barcelona have repeatedly denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the money covered scouting and technical reports about officials supplied by Negreira and his company Dasnil 95, rather than payments intended to influence refereeing.Real Madrid described their submission as evidence of exceptional seriousness affecting confidence in the refereeing system and urged the competent bodies to complete their investigation promptly, although that assessment represents the club’s position rather than a UEFA finding.Barcelona responded by emphasising the continuity of the European proceedings, distinguishing receipt of additional evidence from any decision about its significance or the club’s responsibility.Barcelona 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 club also stated that they have continued to obtain their UEFA licence and participate in European competitions since the investigation began, while a separate criminal case remains ongoing in Spain.UEFA’s confirmation establishes that investigators will examine Madrid’s material, but does not announce formal charges, sanctions or a timetable for completing their review.Barcelona continued: “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.”Barcelona maintain that the UEFA proceedings remain subject to the outcome of the Spanish criminal case, leaving the assessment of the new documents with investigators as both processes continue.