UEFA handed Real Madrid dossier on Barcelona-Negreira case

UEFA has received extensive documentation from Real Madrid pertaining to its ongoing investigation into the Barcelona-Negreira case, the European football governing body announced on Thursday. The Negreira case involves payments made by Barcelona to companies associated with José María Enríquez Negreira, the ex-vice president of Spain's Technical Committee of Referees, spanning over two decades.

UEFA initiated the probe in 2023, while a concurrent criminal investigation continues in Spain. Barcelona maintains that the over €7 million in payments were for technical reports on refereeing. Real Madrid claims the dossier contains evidence of serious events that jeopardize the competition's integrity and the credibility of the refereeing system.

The club emphasized the importance of a prompt investigation and appropriate decisions based on the severity of the verified facts. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez had previously indicated a willingness to collaborate with UEFA but has since adopted a more critical stance. Barcelona clarified that the receipt of the documents does not signify any new proceedings, as the investigation was launched in 2023 and has remained active.

UEFA stated that it will assess the provided documentation as part of its ongoing review, while the club remains committed to actively collaborating with UEFA to ensure transparency and fairness in European football.