Boost for Barcelona as judge rejects Real Madrid request to further extend Negreira case investigation | OneFootball

As per Mundo Deportivo, The judge investigating FC Barcelona’s payments to former Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira has rejected Real Madrid’s request to extend the investigation for another six months.

However, the proceedings have not yet been formally closed because two witness hearings are scheduled for November.

No extension

The head of Barcelona Investigating Court No. 1 rejected the request from Real Madrid, which was supported by the prosecution, to extend the investigation. The previous extension expired on September 1.

The judge is investigating the €7.3 million paid by Barcelona between 2001 and 2018 to Negreira and his son, Javier.

Throughout the matter, Barça have firmly maintained that the payments were made for reports on match officials and scouting reports on players, and there has been zero evidence of any sporting crime being committed.

Real Madrid are waging war against Barcelona over the Negreira case. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Real Madrid, however, have made it a mission to keep on dragging the matter, with their president Florentino Perez, calling the Negreira case the ‘biggest corruption case in football’.

However, Los Blancos bid to further extend the investigation by six months has now been shot down.

As per the court order, the judge considers it unnecessary to extend the investigation simply because two witness hearings remain scheduled for November, when former Barcelona B player and coach Gerard Lopez and reserve-team delegate Antonio are due to testify.

The judge’s order, dated August 10, states that there is no need for an extension because both hearings were already scheduled before the previous extension expired on September 1.

Real Madrid’s pending requests

Judge rejects Real Madrid requests. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The judge also rejected the argument that the investigation should remain open while the Barcelona Provincial Court decides on investigative measures requested by Real Madrid and previously denied by the magistrate.

According to the judge, even if the Provincial Court ultimately rules in Real Madrid’s favour, those investigative measures would not become invalid simply because they were carried out after the formal investigation period had expired.

Real Madrid had requested another six-month extension on July 14, arguing that the detailed investigation carried out by the Civil Guard had produced substantial direct and circumstantial evidence pointing to an alleged continuing offence of sporting corruption.

The case therefore moves forward without the additional six-month extension requested by Real Madrid, although the November witness hearings mean the investigation is not completely finished yet.