Real Madrid has submitted an extensive dossier to UEFA concerning alleged payments made by Barcelona to former Spanish referees' committee vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, bringing new attention to a case that has been unresolved since 2023.
The dossier, reportedly exceeding 50,000 pages, was described by Real Madrid as containing evidence of "extraordinary gravity." The club asserted that the allegations have serious implications for the integrity of the competition and public confidence in the refereeing system. Real Madrid has urged UEFA to expedite its investigation and complete the process promptly, emphasizing the need for decisions rooted in the gravity of the facts presented.
The dispute revolves around claims that Barcelona paid approximately €8.4 million to Negreira between 2001 and 2018. Barcelona has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the payments were legitimate fees for scouting and technical reports on referees, provided by Negreira through his firm, Dasnil 95. The core contention lies in whether these payments were legitimate consultancy fees or intended to improperly influence refereeing decisions—a charge that Barcelona strongly rejects.
UEFA, which has been examining the case since 2023, acknowledged receipt of Real Madrid’s substantial submission but has not announced additional disciplinary measures against Barcelona. The governing body’s ethics and disciplinary inspectors are currently assessing the new material as part of their ongoing inquiry.
Barcelona has sought to clarify that no new proceedings have been initiated. The club stated that the investigation launched in 2023 remains open and that UEFA's investigators have conducted actions they deemed appropriate. According to Barcelona, no new requests have been made recently, nor has UEFA formally shared Real Madrid’s submission with them. The club said it would respond if UEFA officially requests their input.
In June 2023, UEFA decided not to sanction Barcelona at that stage, allowing the club to continue participating in European competitions. Meanwhile, criminal proceedings related to the case are ongoing before a Spanish court, having been underway since 2022.
At present, UEFA’s response is confined to reviewing the sizable dossier provided by Real Madrid. The question remains how the governing body will proceed based on the newly submitted evidence and whether any sanctions or further actions will follow.