UEFA have confirmed receipt of a “giant amount of paperwork” submitted by Real Madrid in relation to the continued investigation into Barcelona over the so-called Negreira case.
European soccer’s governing physique has acknowledged that its ethics and disciplinary inspectors have obtained the file to assessment as a part of their broader monitoring of the Catalan membership, which follows months of strain from the Actual hierarchy.
What’s the Negreira case?
The Negreira case is an ongoing investigation centred round funds of €7million made by Barca to firms linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, the previous vice-president of the Spanish referees’ committee (CTA), between 2001 and 2018.
Madrid consider they led to on-field choices in favour of Barcelona.
Barca insist there was no wrongdoing and declare the funds have been made to Negreira to behave as a marketing consultant on the technical features of refereeing.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez previously confirmed the preparation of an extensive 500-page dossier
after calling the controversy “the largest case of corruption in historical past,” with Madrid subsequently submitting a proper request demanding the resumption of disciplinary proceedings in opposition to their rivals on the grounds that the allegations pose an “extraordinarily severe hazard to the integrity of competitions.”
The most recent improvement comes amid improved institutional relations between Madrid, UEFA, and the European Membership Affiliation, with the Spanish giants eager to make sure the problem is rigorously assessed internationally amid frustration over a perceived lack of traction domestically.
Whereas UEFA reiterated that receipt of the file doesn’t represent the opening of formal disciplinary proceedings or rapid sanctions, it ensures Madrid’s proof is now beneath formal examination by UEFA inspectors beneath the Article 31(4) inquiry initially opened in March 2023.
On the centre of the dispute are historic funds exceeding €7.5m made between 2001 and 2018 to firms linked to former refereeing official José María Enríquez Negreira, an affair that has previously raised questions over potential competitive bans.
Barcelona proceed to strongly refute any wrongdoing whereas sustaining the charges have been strictly for legit exterior technical experiences and advisory work on refereeing tendencies.
