UEFA Receives ‘Substantial’ Real Madrid Documents in Barcelona Negreira Inquiry

UEFA says it has received "a substantial amount of documents" from Real Madrid for its ongoing inquiry into the Negreira case, and Barcelona insist this does not mean any new proceedings have started.

European football's governing body confirmed the news on Thursday. Payments made by Barcelona to companies linked to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, a former vice-president of Spain's Technical Committee of Referees, have been under UEFA investigation since 2023. A criminal case is also running in Spain. Barcelona say the payments, which came to more than €7 million ($7.9m) over two decades, were for technical refereeing reports.

"UEFA can confirm that it has received from Real Madrid CF a substantial amount of documents related to the ongoing investigation into FC Barcelona in the matter involving José María Enríquez Negreira," UEFA said in a statement. "The UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have also received these latest documents which they will assess as part of their ongoing review."

Real Madrid said the dossier holds "extensive documentation and evidence regarding events of extraordinary seriousness, which directly affect the integrity of the competition and confidence in the refereeing system." 

The club wants UEFA to move fast. "Real Madrid C.F. considers it essential that, now that UEFA has this documentation, the investigation proceeds with the utmost urgency until its full conclusion, and that the competent bodies take the appropriate decisions in accordance with the severity of the verified facts," Madrid said.

They added that they will keep working with UEFA. "Our club will continue to actively collaborate with UEFA and take all actions within its power to clarify events that it deems incompatible with the principles of integrity, transparency, and fair play that should govern European football."

Madrid president Florentino Perez said in May that the club was putting together evidence for a dossier. He used to be friendlier toward Barcelona. In 2024, while the two clubs were working on the proposed European Super League, he said they "have to help each other." His tone has changed since. "They've stolen seven league [titles] from me," Perez said in May.

Barcelona pushed back in a statement, saying Thursday's news is not "any new proceedings." They said the case started in 2023, when two investigators were appointed, and that the club has always done what they asked. "These proceedings have not been reopened because they have never been closed," Barcelona said.

The club pointed out that UEFA's statement only confirms it received the documents and that the investigators will look at them as part of the current probe. 

"The same text expressly refers, on two occasions, to an investigation and a review that are 'ongoing.' It therefore does not announce the opening, reopening, or reactivation of any proceedings, nor does it contain any assessment of the substance or value of the documentation provided," Barcelona said.

They also said the investigators have not yet asked them for anything new or passed on Madrid's complaint. 

"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."

Barcelona added that, under the rules, the UEFA case depends on the Spanish criminal trial. "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."