The complaint alleges that Barcelona paid between 7.3 million and 8.4 million euros to companies owned by José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Spanish football association’s refereeing committee, between 2001 and 2018. Real Madrid claims these payments were intended to influence referee decisions, while Barcelona maintains the funds were for scouting and technical reports regarding officials.
UEFA Review and Club Responses
UEFA confirmed on Thursday that it received the dossier, which is reported to exceed 50,000 pages, and stated that its ethics and disciplinary inspectors will assess the documents as part of a review opened in 2023. In a statement, Real Madrid urged officials to “adopt the corresponding decisions in accordance with the seriousness of the proven facts,” arguing the evidence directly affects the integrity of competition and confidence in the refereeing system.
Barcelona responded by stating that UEFA had not opened new proceedings against the club. The club noted that investigators were appointed in 2023 and that the file remains subject to the outcome of criminal proceedings in Spain. Barcelona emphasized that it has complied with all previous requests and that it has not yet been forwarded the new complaint by UEFA investigators.
Spanish Criminal Proceedings
In parallel with the UEFA review, Spanish prosecutors formally charged Barcelona, former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, Negreira, and his son Javier Enríquez Negreira with corruption in March 2023. The case originated from an investigation by tax authorities into the financial relationship between the club and Negreira’s company, Dasnil 95.
Investigative findings have been mixed regarding the ultimate destination of the funds. A report by the Spanish Civil Guard stated that while payments exceeding 7.5 million euros were tracked, it had not established at that stage that the money reached the consultancy described by Barcelona. The report noted repeated cash withdrawals from Negreira’s accounts with unclear final destinations but stopped short of confirming the funds were used to bribe referees. Several referees testified that they did not feel direct influence on their decisions, though some acknowledged a belief that Barcelona sought a sporting edge.
In May 2024, a Barcelona court dropped the specific charge of bribery, concluding that Negreira did not hold the public-official status required for that specific offense. However, the investigation into sporting corruption remains ongoing. A 2026 report by the Spanish tax authority found no evidence that Barcelona’s money was used to sway match results, though it flagged unresolved questions regarding the purpose of certain cash withdrawals.
Legal Action Against Real Madrid
Amid these proceedings, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has moved to litigate against Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. Barcelona has filed a civil suit demanding that Pérez retract statements accusing the club of corruption and enriching referees, or specify the referees, matches, and facts underpinning those claims.
Pérez faces a court date on November 25 regarding these allegations. Barcelona has indicated that if Pérez fails to substantiate his claims or retract them, the club will file a criminal lawsuit. This legal maneuver shifts the confrontation from media statements to judicial proceedings, highlighting the current legal reality that no final judicial ruling has yet found that Barcelona purchased refereeing decisions.
