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Barcelona’s deepening legal crisis over the so-called Negreira Case has taken a fresh turn, with a city court issuing a sweeping order for the club to produce all original contracts and documentation tied to multimillion-euro payments made to former refereeing official José María Enríquez Negreira.
The First Court of Instruction in Barcelona has formally instructed FC Barcelona to hand over “any type of material that could support its billing”, a demand covering nearly two decades of payments to Negreira and his companies. The order reflects growing frustration from investigators over the absence of formal records justifying the transactions, which total roughly €8 million between 2001 and 2018.
According to El Mundo, investigators have so far been unable to locate any written contracts or documents in the club’s archives explaining the payments, which were allegedly made for “refereeing advisory” services. The missing paperwork has deepened suspicion around the true purpose of the relationship between Barcelona and the former vice-president of Spain’s Referees Committee (CTA).
The judicial request underscores the determination of authorities to clarify whether the payments were legitimate consulting fees or part of a broader scheme to improperly influence refereeing decisions in the club’s favour, a potential offence of sporting corruption.
Barcelona has consistently argued that the payments were made in good faith for technical advice and reports on refereeing standards and emerging players. Both former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell have defended the arrangement, maintaining that Negreira’s work consisted of tactical analyses and feedback on match officiating.
However, the lack of verifiable evidence and contradictions among witnesses have forced deeper judicial intervention. The court’s insistence on original documentation marks a critical stage in the years-long investigation and poses significant legal pressure on Barcelona’s leadership.
The latest developments not only extend the scope of the probe but also reignite broader questions about governance and accountability at the Catalan club, already strained by financial troubles and internal instability.
As the case advances, the outcome may hinge on whether Barcelona can present convincing proof that the millions paid to Negreira were part of legitimate consultancy work rather than an illicit bid to secure favourable treatment on the pitch.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Timeo Buehrer, Pexels / David Pickup
