Negreira denied having paid the referees

José María Enríquez Negreira denied in his assertion earlier than the Tax Company having paid the referees to favor FC Barcelona.

José María Enríquez Negreira denied in his assertion earlier than the Tax Company having paid the referees to favor FC Barcelona. That is said within the abstract of the Negreira case to which La Vanguardia has had entry. The previous referee assured that Barça employed him as a result of "in order that they have been calm that within the arbitration committee there have been no choices towards Futbol Membership Barcelona, ​​that all the pieces was impartial." And when requested if he paid any referee, Negreira answered emphatically: "No."

Between 2001 and 2018, Barça paid the quantity of seven.3 million euros to Negreira's firm for supposed recommendation to face matches on the arbitration stage. “FC Barcelona thought of that the crew was being harmed and different groups have been being favored. My obligation was to provide my opinion in regards to the matches by way of refereeing and the gamers. Barça wished to ensure that no choices have been made towards them and that all the pieces was impartial, ”he indicated.

Thus, when requested about what his work for Barça consisted of, Negreira replied that he went to look at the video games and was knowledgeable of why sure choices have been made. In truth, he gave a number of examples of what his features have been: "Requesting that the Competitors Committee not be made up completely of judges from Madrid, that the membership have an interlocutor with the Federation who would care for institutional relations, that the membership at all times ship representatives to the farewell tributes of the Primera referees once they completed their sports activities profession, recommending which yellow playing cards or expulsions might be appealed after a recreation; inform or notify of any institutional go to of the Federation in order that the membership maintains good institutional relations; hold the membership knowledgeable of potential pursuits or disagreements between the Federation and the LFP, or describe candidates to preside over the LFP”.

The connection between Barça and Negreira ended when the latter ceased to be the vice chairman of the Technical Committee of Referees. A Treasury report that seems within the case signifies that between 2016 and 2019 Negreira would have had greater than 550,000 euros in money and would have made card funds of greater than 130,000 euros.

In parallel, the prosecutor highlights that the ex-arbitrator didn't see his belongings enhance, with which he suspects that "he was not the one and final recipient of all of the funds." As well as, there may be one other suspicious indication. Negreira's son, who invoiced by means of the corporate of former director Josep Contreras, stopped offering the arbitration advisory and recording service when his father left the place of vice chairman of the referees committee.

Negreira's cope with Barça lasted for 17 years. In accordance with the Treasury, their contractual relationship started in 2001 beneath the presidency of Joan Gaspart. The previous referee indicated that he met with Bartomeu and Rosell about six occasions a yr. The abstract comprises a watsap that was exchanged with the membership's sports activities supervisor, Albert Soler, additionally charged on this case in February 2017. Negreira complains in regards to the arbitration that Barça obtained.

“I've requested Mr. Contreras to provide the evaluation of yesterday's recreation as quickly as potential. The errors in choices (penalty, disallowed objective) have been in favor of FCB, it was horrible in the way in which it led the sport. The playing cards, appropriate, besides Busquets. Keep in mind, please, what I instructed you about Luis Suárez. We speak anytime". Barça obtained the request from the Prosecutor's Workplace in July 2022, responded that Negreira not had a contractual relationship with the membership and attributed any accountability to the previous common director Òscar Grau and Albert Soler.

The abstract additionally features a collection of studies made by the ex-referee for Barça, which embrace feedback akin to the next: "Take nice care of Gil Manzano." "Mateu Lahoz is healthier now with Messi". “Bengoetxea could be very near Burgos”.