Real Madrid have called on the Union of European Football Associations to expedite its investigation into the Negreira case following confirmation that the governing body had received the Spanish club’s complaint over payments made by Barcelona to a former senior refereeing official.
Real Madrid disclosed in a statement on Thursday that UEFA had acknowledged receipt of its complaint and confirmed that its investigation into payments allegedly made by Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira was continuing.
Negreira served as vice-president of Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees between 1994 and 2018.
The Spanish giants said they had submitted extensive documentation and evidence which, in their view, raised serious concerns about the integrity of football competitions and confidence in the refereeing system.
“UEFA has confirmed the receipt of the complaint filed by Real Madrid C.F. and the continuation of the investigation concerning payments made over the past two decades by F.C. Barcelona to the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees,” the club said.
“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 Madrid-based club said its complaint was aimed at ensuring that the matter received a full examination by the relevant football authorities.
“The complaint filed by our club includes extensive documentation and evidence regarding events of extraordinary seriousness, which directly affect the integrity of the competition and confidence in the refereeing system,” the club said.
Real Madrid also pledged to continue working with UEFA and taking steps it considered necessary to establish the facts surrounding the case.
“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,” Real Madrid said.
The Negreira case centres on payments made by Barcelona to companies linked to Negreira during his time as a senior figure within Spain’s refereeing structure.
Spanish prosecutors have alleged that the payments were intended to influence refereeing decisions.
Barcelona, however, have denied seeking favourable treatment and maintained that the payments were for technical refereeing reports and advisory services.
UEFA appointed Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors in March 2023 to investigate whether Barcelona may have breached its regulations in connection with the case.
Spanish authorities have also investigated the payments, with the broader dispute focusing on their purpose and whether they amounted to sporting or other wrongdoing.
The existence of the payments is not disputed by the parties, while their purpose and potential sporting implications remain central to the case.
