The European Football Union (UEFA) has launched investigations into FC Barcelona in the “Negreira case”. As UEFA announced on Thursday, ethics and disciplinary inspectors have been appointed to uncover a “possible violation of the legal framework” at the club.
Barca are accused by Spanish prosecutors of paying around €7.3m to former referee chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira’s company between 2001 and 2018.
According to prosecutors, the Catalans are said to have paid for refereeing decisions in their favour. The club, on the other hand, claims that they only transferred the sum for reports and advice.
Almost two weeks ago, the Spanish judiciary brought charges against the Spanish league leaders and the two former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu for “corruption”, “embezzlement” and “falsification of business documents” in connection with the suspicious money payments to Negreira . Negreira was also charged.