Scandal in Spanish soccer: Court has evidence of FC Barcelona bribing referees in the Negreira case

One of the most prestigious and award-winning clubs in world soccer is being investigated for what may be one of the biggest examples of corruption in the history of sports. Spanish judicial authorities have evidence that FC Barcelona, while under the leadership of former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, may have committed several crimes related to bribing referees in what is now being called the Negreira case.

According to reports from the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the court investigating the Negreira case has issued several orders in which it reflects the 7.3 million euros ($7.8 million) paid by the club to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former referee and former vice president of the Referees Technical Committee (CTA). This is the body affiliated with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that is responsible for the operation and organization of referees.

What has yet to be proven is whether the payments made by FC Barcelona were to receive benefits from referees in their games. Even so, the court is already reviewing the club for the payments made to to Enríquez Negreira and has asked police to open an investigation.

The payments made by FC Barcelona went to companies owned or associated with Enríquez Negreira and his son Javier, who is also under investigation.

From seven to 10 years in prison for each of the defendants

In total, six people are being prosecuted for jail sentences. In addition to Enríquez Negreira, his son Javier, Rosell and Bartomeu, two former FC Barcelona senior executives, Óscar Grau and Albert Soler, are also under investigation. For each of them, the Spanish Prosecutor's Office asks for between seven (in the case of Enríquez Negreira, his son and Rossell) and 10 years in prison (for Bartomeu, Grau and Soler) for allegedly committing crimes such as falsification of documents, corruption between individuals and unjust administration.

On the other hand, FC Barcelona could face fines as serious as the suspension of club activities and dissolution of the company.

Former club President Joan Gaspart and current President Joan Laporta – currently serving his second stint at the helm of FC Barcelona after returning to the presidency in 2021 – would also be involved, although in their case they could not be charged, since, if they had committed crimes, the statute of limitations would have already expired.

The latest case of corruption for FC Barcelona

Over the past two decades, corruption cases have tainted FC Barcelona. Being an institution of great importance, and not only in sports, these scandals have only damaged its reputation.

Several players who passed through the team – such as Lionel Messi, Gerard Piqué and Javier Mascherano – were convicted of defrauding the Spanish Treasury and had to pay fines exceeding $1 million.

Another controversy was the signing of Neymar. The then-President Sandro Rosell and Vice President Josep Maria Bartomeu were accused, along with the player and his parents, of defrauding the company that owned 40% of Neymar's soccer activities. This case led to Rosell's resignation as president. Finally, after a years-long judicial process, all the accused were acquitted.

In addition to the Negreira case, there is another case immersed in its judicial process: Barçagate. In February 2020, the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser uncovered that, during his term, Bartomeu launched smear campaigns against some players and other people related to the club whom he viewed as opponents. Eight months later, Bartomeu resigned and continues to be investigated along with other members of his board.