UEFA has now also started investigations into FC Barcelona’s affair about possible corruption in Spanish refereeing.
As announced by UEFA, they have appointed ethics and disciplinary inspectors to “possible violations of UEFA regulations” to determine. UEFA specifically referred to the “Negreira case”. More information would “at a given time” published, according to UEFA.
The public prosecutor’s office in Barcelona is currently investigating suspected corruption. The UEFA Disciplinary Code criminalizes match-fixing and corruption, with no statute of limitations for either offence.
Referee official paid by Barcelona until 2018
At least since 2001 and until 2018, José María Enríquez Negreira’s companies are said to have received money from FC Barcelona. Until 2018, Negreira was Vice-President of the Referees Committee in the Spanish federation RFEF.
When Enríquez Negreira left the board in 2018, the club stopped making payments. Ex-President Bartomeu told Cadena SER that the suspension of payments was related to an austerity policy that had been put in place. Barcelona meanwhile pushed debts in the billions.
Barcelona denies allegations
FC Barcelona denies all guilt and spoke of Negreira’s customary advice. Negreira emphasized that the club was not given preference in any decision.