🚨 Breaking: Judge asks Barcelona for contracts with Negreira | OneFootball

The "Negreira Case" has escalated to a new judicial level. A court in Barcelona has issued a strong order requesting all contracts and documentation related to payments made by FC Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira and his companies. This judicial action aims to shed light on the nature of the commercial relationship that linked the Blaugrana club with the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) for almost two decades.

The investigating judge requires the club to deliver "any type of material that could support its billing" over the nearly twenty years during which the payments were made. This judicial request is not limited to formal agreements but encompasses all documentation that justifies the provision of services, the content of the reports, or any support that demonstrates the legality and justification of the large sums paid. The thoroughness of the request underscores the justice system's interest in unraveling the true purpose of these transactions.

The case, which has shocked Spanish football, investigates the payments FC Barcelona made to companies linked to Enríquez Negreira from 2001 to 2018, a period during which he held a highly relevant position in the refereeing establishment. The central hypothesis of the judicial investigation points to an alleged crime of sports corruption and disloyal administration, seeking to determine whether the payments aimed to influence refereeing decisions or were simply for scouting and advisory services, as the Catalan club claims.

FC Barcelona has always maintained that the payments corresponded to technical reports on refereeing and young talents, a practice they considered lawful and common in the sector. However, the lack of clear documentation and contradictory testimonies have forced the magistrate's intervention. This request from the judge represents additional pressure for the club, which must now provide all financial and contractual information that supports its version of events.

The delivery of these documents will be crucial for the progress of the investigation. If the club manages to provide solid material that justifies each invoice and payment, it could mitigate the accusations. On the contrary, if the documentation proves to be insufficient or ambiguous, the judicial investigation could solidify the line pointing to irregularities. The future of this high-profile case now depends on the documentation that FC Barcelona provides to the court.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 PAU BARRENA - AFP or licensors