Real Madrid has submitted a 50,000-page dossier to UEFA as part of the ongoing investigation into payments made by Barcelona to former Spanish referees’ committee vice-president José María Enríquez Negreira. The dossier contains what Real Madrid describes as evidence of “extraordinary gravity” and raises serious questions about the integrity of competition and confidence in the refereeing system. UEFA confirmed receipt of the documents and said its ethics and disciplinary inspectors would assess the material.
The dispute centres on payments totalling about €8.4 million that Barcelona made to companies linked to Negreira between 2001 and 2018. Barcelona has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the payments were for technical reports and scouting services concerning referees. Real Madrid's latest submission is reportedly more than 50,000 pages long and, according to the Spanish club, contains material that directly affects the integrity of the competition and confidence in the refereeing system.
Real Madrid has called for the UEFA process to move forward as quickly as possible and for the relevant authorities to take appropriate decisions based on the seriousness of any facts ultimately established. The club has been among the most prominent critics of the Negreira case and has previously expressed concern over the potential implications of the payments for Spanish football. Barcelona, however, has disputed the suggestion that UEFA has opened a new disciplinary case against the club.
Barcelona said the proceedings began in 2023 and remain ongoing, insisting that they have complied with requests from the investigators. The club has repeatedly rejected allegations that the payments to Negreira were intended to influence refereeing decisions. According to Barcelona, the payments were connected to technical and scouting reports on referees rather than attempts to influence officials.
Spanish authorities have been investigating the matter since 2023, while a separate UEFA process has also been ongoing. In June 2023, UEFA investigators decided not to impose a sporting punishment on Barcelona, allowing the club to continue competing in European competitions. The Spanish criminal investigation, however, remains ongoing.
La Liga president Javier Tebas previously said the league could not take sporting action because the alleged conduct fell outside the applicable time limit under sports law, although he noted that the matter could still be relevant under criminal law. For now, UEFA will assess Real Madrid's latest documentation as the wider Negreira investigation continues.
Barcelona has also stated that the file is subject to the outcome of the criminal proceedings taking place in Spain and will remain therein. The club will respond accordingly if UEFA makes any new requests or forwards Real Madrid's complaint to the club. The Negreira case has sparked significant debate in Spanish football, with various stakeholders weighing in on the potential implications for the sport.
Key points
- Real Madrid submits 50,000-page dossier to UEFA over Barcelona’s payments to former refereeing official José María Enríquez Negreira.
- Barcelona denies any wrongdoing, maintaining payments were for technical reports and scouting services concerning referees.
- UEFA will assess Real Madrid's documentation as the wider Negreira investigation continues.
