Real Madrid demands Barça's head | OneFootball

Negreira scandal: Real Madrid ready to bring Barça down

Real Madrid demands Barça's head

In February 2023, Spanish football was rocked by a shocking revelation: the tax authorities disclosed that FC Barcelona had paid several million euros between 2001 and 2018 to José María Enríquez Negreira, former vice-president of the referees’ technical committee. Officially, these payments were for “technical advice” meant to provide the Blaugranas with detailed reports on how to manage matches depending on the appointed referees. But for the public, it was hard to buy into such a coincidence. Despite repeated denials from the Catalan leadership, the affair quickly exploded onto the national scene, casting doubt on the sporting integrity of a legendary club. After a few months of calm, the case resurfaced with new witness hearings, reigniting a controversy that had seemed to fade.

Madrid goes on the offensive against its rival

In the capital, reactions were unequivocal. Real Madrid decided to closely monitor every stage of the judicial process, demanding exemplary sanctions against its historic enemy. The Madrid board regularly passes information to FIFA and has stated it is ready to turn to UEFA if Spanish justice does not go far enough. Furthermore, media outlets close to Los Blancos are waging their own campaign, publishing comparative analyses of refereeing decisions. The figures put forward aim to show that Barça benefited from favorable treatment for nearly two decades. The intention is clear: build a case strong enough to influence future disciplinary decisions.

Barça faces threat of severe sanctions

For the reigning Spanish champions, the situation has serious consequences. Officially, the club maintains that there was never any corruption, insisting these were purely consulting services. But that argument is failing to convince as the atmosphere around Spanish football grows increasingly tense. Behind the scenes, the threat of sanctions still looms: significant fines, points deductions, or even exclusion from national or European competitions. Such an outcome would be catastrophic for Barça, already weakened by financial troubles and searching for sporting stability.

The Negreira affair has now moved beyond the pitch. It has become an institutional and political issue, crystallizing the age-old rivalry between Madrid and Barcelona. In the coming weeks, the courts will have to decide, but one thing is certain: whatever the verdict, this scandal will leave a lasting mark on the history of Spanish football.