FC Barcelona Rejects Claims of Revived UEFA Case in Negreira Probe

The UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have received a 500-page dossier containing a substantial quantity of documents from Real Madrid regarding the ongoing investigation into FC Barcelona and José María Enríquez Negreira, according to official statements from both clubs and European football’s governing body.

Real Madrid Submits 500-Page Dosier to European Governing Body

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez first announced plans to submit the investigative file during a May 12 press conference. Nearly five months later, the documents reached UEFA, prompting the governing body of European football to confirm that its inspectors are evaluating the material as part of an ongoing review. Real Madrid subsequently issued a statement asserting that the dossier includes abundant evidence regarding payments made to the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees over a two-decade span. The club from Concha Espina maintained that the submitted material directly affects the integrity of competitions and urged authorities to advance the investigation with maximum speed.

FC Barcelona Rejects Claims of a Reactivated Investigation

FC Barcelona responded swiftly by dismissing media reports of a revived case as unfounded, characterizing the coverage as “smoke” in statements reported by Sport. The Catalan club clarified that the governing body has not opened any new disciplinary proceedings or reactivated an old one. According to FC Barcelona’s official communication, the probe originated in 2023 with the appointment of two investigators who have continuously reviewed the matter without ever closing the file. The club noted that the UEFA text explicitly refers twice to an inquiry already “in course” rather than announcing any fresh measures or making definitive pronouncements on the merits of the evidence provided by Real Madrid.

Legal Proceedings in Spain Shape Disciplinary Timeline

FC Barcelona maintains confidence that the European inquiry will yield no sanctions, emphasizing that UEFA previously established its policy to await a final ruling from the Spanish judiciary before taking formal action. The judicial instruction phase in Spain has approached its final stages, with the presiding judge denying further extensions. Barcelona's communications state that under applicable regulations, the European investigation remains tied to the ongoing criminal proceedings in Spain. The club also pointed out that European authorities have continually renewed Barcelona's competition licenses each season since the inquiry began, and confirmed that investigators have issued no new information requests or forwarded Real Madrid's dossier to the club.

Conciliation Hearing Scheduled in Madrid Courts

Beyond the sporting governance disputes, legal friction persists between the two Spanish clubs over public statements made regarding the referee payments. The fallout from Florentino Pérez’s May remarks led FC Barcelona to initiate legal action. Madrid courts scheduled a conciliation hearing for November 25, giving the Real Madrid president an opportunity to retract statements accusing Barcelona of purchasing referees. Should no retraction occur, the Catalan club intends to file a criminal complaint alleging defamation.