Real Madrid has sent fifty thousand pages, containing thousands of documents, evidence, and statements from various parties, to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), in order to launch an expanded investigation into the José María Negrera case and its repercussions.
Real Madrid believes that what has concluded for Spanish sports authorities remains open before UEFA, which intends to follow this case in all its details—a case that has raised widespread concerns at the level of the La Liga championship.
Real Madrid sends thousands of documents to UEFA
According to reports by the newspaper "AS," UEFA wishes to clarify everything that occurred between 2001 and 2018, the years during which Barcelona paid €8.4 million to the deputy chairman of the Technical Committee of Referees during that period.
Through this investigation, UEFA seeks to determine the intent behind these payments, what Barcelona was aiming for, and the extent of the impact of these alleged payments in exchange for reports.
The report noted that when the case was reported and revealed publicly in April 2023, Aleksander Čeferin, the President of UEFA, described it as one of the most serious matters he had witnessed in the world of football.
Comment by the UEFA President on the Negrera crisis
The UEFA President said: "I cannot comment directly on this matter for two reasons. First, because we have an independent disciplinary committee handling it, and second, because I have not dealt with this issue in detail. However, I can say something: I have reviewed the matter, and the situation is extremely serious."
He added: "It is one of the most serious things I have seen in football. At the level of La Liga, naturally, the case has fallen under the statute of limitations and cannot result in any competitive consequences, but proceedings are ongoing at the level of the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office. As for UEFA, nothing falls under the statute of limitations."
Over the past three and a half years, UEFA had been waiting for the decision of the Spanish court, but the situation changed following the steps taken by Real Madrid.
The file submitted by Real Madrid is currently undergoing close scrutiny by the inspector appointed to investigate the case, after UEFA deemed the matter serious enough to open an investigation.
After the formal start of the investigation, evidence will be examined carefully, direct information will be gathered from the relevant parties, including their statements, in addition to hearing Barcelona's relevant arguments.
Possibility of ban from competition is likely
Real Madrid has demanded stripping Barcelona of the titles won during the years the Catalan club paid former deputy chairman of the refereeing committee, José María Negrera.
UEFA has the right at any time to ban any team from participating in its competitions if it deems that the club concerned attempted to alter the normal order of competition, as stipulated in Article 4 of UEFA regulations.
The start of the investigation coincides with the English Premier League's condemnation of Manchester City's practices between 2009 and 2018, which could lead to the relegation of the English club.
UEFA had previously banned Manchester City from participating in European competitions for two years, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a final ruling in favor of the club's management.
UEFA statement regarding the crisis
In a statement on this matter, UEFA stated: "UEFA confirms that it has received a large number of documents from Real Madrid related to the ongoing investigation with FC Barcelona concerning José María Enriquez Negreira, the former Deputy Chairman of the Technical Committee of Referees at the Royal Spanish Football Federation."
It added: "UEFA's Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have also received these documents and will evaluate them as part of their ongoing review of the case."
