REUTERS/Albert Gea
UEFA have confirmed that it has received a 50,000-page document from Real Madrid regarding the Negreira case, which has been ongoing for several years.
A 2019 investigation found that Barcelona had paid companies linked to Negreira, the chairman of the referees' association. The amount of money said to have changed hands between 2001 and 2018 is from €7.3 million to €8.4 million.
The Public Prosecutor's Office is still investigating whether or not those payments were made in an attempt to influence refereeing decisions in the Catalan club's favour. Negreira allegedly told tax authorities that the money was 'so that no refereeing decisions were taken against them'.
Real Madrid Want Drastic Action Taken
General view of the Bernabeu
In a statement released by Los Blancos on Thursday, the club demanded the process be carried out with the 'utmost urgency'. Florentino Perez is reportedly unhappy with how long investigations in Spain, which are set to end in 2026, are taking.
That's why the club have gone to UEFA with their concerns. The club statement read: "UEFA has confirmed the receipt of the complaint filed by Real Madrid C.F. and the continuation of the investigation concerning payments made over the past two decades by F.C. Barcelona to the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees.
Roberto Carlos holding a Real Madrid microphone
Roberto Carlos holding a Real Madrid microphone
According to Spanish publication Diario AS, the Spanish giants want to see their competitors stripped of titles won in the 2001 to 2018 period. Barca won La Liga nine times in that spell, along with four Champions League titles.
UEFA has the power to ban clubs from its competitions if they are found guilty of attempting to distort natural competition, per Article 4 of UEFA’s regulations.
Manchester City, who are currently facing a huge legal battle with the Premier League, were initially handed a two-year suspension from UEFA competitions before the sanction was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Barcelona Release a Statement in Response
Camp Nou (FC Barcelona)
Barcelona were quick to respond to Real Madrid's complaint. The Blaugrana claim UEFA have not opened a new investigation, as the 2023 case has yet to conclude.
The statement said: "UEFA has not opened any new proceedings against FC Barcelona. The proceedings were initiated in 2023, with the appointment of two investigators who have since carried out the action they deemed appropriate. The Club has always complied with all their requests. These proceedings have not been reopened because they have never been closed."
Mourinho, Robson and Ronaldo at Barcelona
Mourinho, Robson and Ronaldo at Barcelona
The investigations in Spain must be concluded before UEFA can make their ruling on the case. Barca state that they have not been contacted by UEFA regarding Real Madrid's submitted evidence.
"It is up to the investigators to determine what action, if any, they consider appropriate regarding this documentation. As of today, they have not made any new requests to FC Barcelona nor have they forwarded Real Madrid’s complaint to the Club. Should they do so, the Club will respond accordingly, as it has done up to now.
"In accordance with the applicable legislation governing this matter, these proceedings are subject to the outcome of the criminal case currently being heard in Spain and will continue to be so."