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Real Madrid submit Negreira case documents to UEFA against rivals FC Barcelona, urging immediate investigation
Real Madrid have submitted a substantial amount of new documentation to UEFA regarding the long-running Negreira case, increasing pressure on European football’s governing body to investigate FC Barcelona's payments totalling over €7 million to a company linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice president of Spain's Technical Committee of Referees.
UEFA confirmed on October 1 that it has received the documents from Real Madrid, and its Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have also received the material and will investigate it as part of their ongoing review.
"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," UEFA confirmed in a statement on Thursday. (sic)
It further said, "The UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have also received these latest documents, which they will assess as part of their ongoing review.” (sic)
Real Madrid also added an official statement stating that the documents submitted to UEFA contain an ample amount of evidence regarding the serious breach by the Catalan giants which affects the integrity of the competition and belief in the refereeing body.
"Real Madrid C.F. considers it essential that, now that UEFA has this documentation, the investigation proceeds with the utmost urgency until its full conclusion, and that the competent bodies take the appropriate decisions in accordance with the severity of the verified facts," the club said in their statement. (sic)
It further said, "Our club will continue to actively collaborate with UEFA and take all actions within its power to clarify events that it deems incompatible with the principles of integrity, transparency, and fair play that should govern European football.” (sic)
Barcelona have consistently maintained that the money paid was for technical reports, refereeing analysis and consultancy services, rather than an attempt to influence match officials.
The Catalans responded to the latest development in this case by stressing that UEFA has neither opened a new disciplinary case nor reopened an existing one.
The club said the proceedings began in 2023 and have remained ongoing, with Barcelona cooperating with investigators ever since.
"The proceedings were initiated in 2023, with the appointment of two investigators who have since carried out the action they deemed appropriate. The club have always complied with all their requests. These proceedings have not been reopened because they have never been closed,” said FC Barcelona's official statement. (sic)
It further added, "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.” (sic)
"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.” (sic)
"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.” (sic)
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