Real Madrid have submitted a substantial new batch of documents to UEFA as European football’s governing body continues its review of the Negreira case involving Barcelona.
UEFA confirmed that its ethics and disciplinary inspectors have received the material and will assess it as part of their ongoing investigation into the case.
The Negreira matter centres on payments made by Barcelona to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) of the Spanish Football Federation.
Barcelona have maintained that the payments were for scouting and technical reports concerning referees. However, allegations have previously been made that the payments were intended to influence refereeing decisions.
Real Madrid have now stepped up their involvement by submitting what they describe as a major dossier containing evidence they believe could have serious implications for the integrity of Spanish and European football.
Los Blancos said the documents contain “evidence of extraordinary gravity, which directly affect the integrity of the competition and confidence in the refereeing system”.
A statement from the Madrid club read: “Real Madrid CF considers it essential that, once UEFA has this documentation, the investigation progresses as quickly as possible until its complete conclusion and that the competent bodies adopt the corresponding decisions in accordance with the seriousness of the proven facts.
“Our club will continue to actively collaborate with UEFA and take all the actions within its power to clarify facts that it considers incompatible with the principles of integrity, transparency and fair play that should govern European football.”
UEFA subsequently confirmed that the documents had been received and would be examined by the officials already involved in the case.
Its statement read: “UEFA can confirm that it has received from Real Madrid CF a substantial amount of documents related to the ongoing investigation into FC Barcelona in the matter involving Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the technical committee of referees of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (the so-called “Negreira matter”).
“The UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspectors have also received these latest documents which they will assess as part of their ongoing review.”
Reports have claimed that Real Madrid’s latest dossier runs to more than 50,000 pages, underlining the scale of the material handed to UEFA.
Barcelona, however, have stressed that UEFA has not launched a new disciplinary case against the Catalan club.
The Spanish giants said: “UEFA has not opened any new disciplinary proceedings against FC Barcelona. The proceedings began in 2023 with the appointment of two investigators, who have since carried out the actions they deemed necessary.
“The club has always complied with all their requests. These proceedings have not been reopened because they were never closed.
“The UEFA statement…does not announce the opening, reopening, or reactivation of any case, nor does it contain any pronouncement on the substance or value of the submitted documentation.
“It is up to the investigators to determine what actions they deem appropriate regarding this documentation. As of today, they have not made any new requests to FC Barcelona nor have they forwarded Real Madrid’s complaint to the club. When they do, the club will respond appropriately, as it has done thus far.
“In accordance with the applicable legislation, this file is subject to the outcome of the criminal proceedings taking place in Spain and will remain therein.
“Since the start of the investigation, FC Barcelona has continued to obtain UEFA licenses without objection and has participated in its competitions.”
The latest development therefore adds another significant layer to a case that has already attracted intense scrutiny across Spanish football.
For now, UEFA has confirmed only that the new documents have been received and will be reviewed. Any potential disciplinary consequences will depend on the findings of the ongoing process and the relevant proceedings in Spain.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
