News Focus
- Barcelona’s legal team is reviewing options to respond to accusations made by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez
- Perez announced Real Madrid will send a 500-page file to UEFA regarding payments Barcelona made to former referees official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira
- The Catalan club denies wrongdoing and maintains the €7-8 million payments were for referee consultancy services
- Perez described the case as the biggest corruption scandal in football history during a press conference calling for club elections
- Real Madrid claim they have lost titles due to alleged referee bias and want UEFA to intervene in the matter
FC Barcelona have confirmed their lawyers are examining possible legal steps against Real Madrid. This follows strong comments made by Los Blancos president Florentino Perez during a recent press briefing at the Bernabeu.
Perez revealed that his club plans to deliver a detailed 500-page report to European football’s governing body, UEFA. The document concerns the Negreira affair, where Barcelona allegedly paid millions of euros to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira over a 17-year period.
The payments, totaling around seven to eight million euros, went to Negreira whilst he served as vice-president of Spain’s referees committee. Barcelona insist these funds were for legitimate consultancy work and technical reports about match officials.
During his address, Perez did not hold back his criticism. He labelled the situation the most serious corruption case in football history. He also accused La Liga of being a constant opponent to his club’s interests.
The Real Madrid chief claimed his team has been robbed of domestic league titles. He suggested they could have won 14 championships instead of seven during his time at the helm. He also announced he would stand for re-election at the club.
Perez stated he has already spoken with UEFA officials about the matter. He believes European authorities must act because Spanish authorities have not resolved the issue. The case remains in pre-trial stages within the Spanish legal system.
Barcelona responded swiftly with an official statement. They confirmed their legal department is studying Perez’s remarks and considering appropriate action. Throughout the investigation, the Camp Nou outfit has consistently denied any corruption or sporting fraud.
The rivalry between Spain’s two biggest clubs has intensified following these latest developments. UEFA now faces pressure to investigate allegations that could shake the foundations of Spanish football.