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1026 days that Spanish justice and Spanish football have gone without relegating FC Barcelona (Farça) from the First Division League for bribing the vice-president of the Spanish referees, Enríquez Negreira, between 2001 and 2018, with the silence of the press and the complicity of most Spanish teams, with the exception of Real Madrid C.F..

17
Years buying referees
Feb 15, 2023
It was made public in the Spanish press
≈ €8.4M
Paid to the VP of referees (2001-2018)

Executive Summary

The so-called "Negreira Case" exposes a long-running scheme where FC Barcelona made payments to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira while he was the vice-president of Spain's Technical Committee of Referees (CTA). The scandal, which broke on February 15, 2023, investigates whether these payments were intended to secure favorable treatment from referees and influence match outcomes.

Key Points

  • In February 2023, payments of ≈€1.4 million between 2016-2018 for "consulting" were made public (source: RTVE / El País).
  • Subsequent investigations (by Guardia Civil / Tax Agency / Prosecutor's Office) raised the cumulative figure to between ≈€7–€8.4 million for the period 2001-2018.
  • The club is being investigated for serious offenses, including corruption in sports, bribery, and fraudulent administration.
  • In May 2024, the Barcelona Court of Appeal decided to annul the club's indictment for bribery in that specific form (argument: Negreira was not considered a public official in that ruling).

Essential Timeline

  • 1993-2018: Negreira is vice-president of the CTA (vice-president of the refereeing body) — holds the position until 2018.
  • Feb 15, 2023: first articles revealing Barça's payments to companies linked to Negreira (RTVE, El País, The Guardian reported extensively).
  • 2023: Prosecutor's Office and Guardia Civil investigate; the investigation is expanded, and bribery charges are brought against those under investigation.
  • September 2023: report and proceedings by the Guardia Civil and the prosecutor's office reveal payments and possible management irregularities.
  • May 2024: The Barcelona Court of Appeal overturns Barça's indictment for bribery in that specific qualification (judicial resolution on the consideration of Negreira as a public official).
  • December 2024: New public reports (Guardia Civil / press) raise the investigated figures to ≈ €8.4M for the 2001-2018 period.
  • October 2025: The Spanish justice system has officially charged the club as a legal entity for a continuous crime of business corruption in the form of fraud.
This timeline is a summary — below you have direct links to the main sources.

Mentioned Individuals and Entities

  • José María Enríquez Negreira — former referee and ex-vice-president of the CTA; linked to several companies through which payments were invoiced.
  • FC Barcelona — the club that made the payments; the club's defense: technical reports on refereeing.
  • Tax Agency / Guardia Civil / Prosecutor's Office — bodies that initiated the investigation after detecting suspicious transfers and financial irregularities.
  • Judicial bodies — Courts and the Barcelona Court of Appeal have issued orders and resolutions during the investigation.

Judicial Status and Legal Aspects (Summary)

The investigation began after a tax inspection uncovered the payments. The case has explored charges of corruption in sports, bribery, and fraudulent administration. While a specific charge of bribery was dismissed in May 2024 on the technicality that Negreira was not a "public official," the core investigation into sport-related corruption continues, leaving many to question the slow pace of justice and the reluctance of sporting bodies to impose sanctions.

Note: the processes and proceedings are ongoing on different fronts (tax, criminal, administrative) and developments may evolve; consult the sources at the end for the latest actions.

Additional Material

Relevant press links and articles.