FC Barcelona just can’t seem to catch a break off the field. For the last three years, the Catalan club has run into one problem after another. First, there was the BarcaGate scandal in which the police raided the office of then Barcelona President Josep Bartomeu and arrested him. It was followed a year later when Barcelona had to activate several economic levers to buy players in the 2022 transfer window. And now, in the latest scandal, the club has been accused of making payments for a period of 17 years to La Liga’s Vice President of the Technical Committee for Referees between 1994-2018.
These accusations have caused a massive uproar in the Spanish league. The club has looked to be on the right path to reclaiming their spot as one of the best teams in Europe, and if true, these allegations could really hamper the club and its ambition.
So, what are the new allegations that have mired FC Barcelona?
What is the new Barcelona scandal?
The Spanish public prosecutor’s office has accused Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira of receiving payments from FC Barcelona between 2001-2018. During this period, he was the second-in-command of the La Liga refereeing body. Others accused in the case are former Barcelona President Sandro Rossell and Josep Bartomeu and also the club.
The Barcelona city administration has already started an investigation. However, the investigation will only cover a period between 2016-2018. The allegations have caused a storm because, due to the person involved in the payment, speculations have emerged that it was a bribery scandal to get favourable decisions for FC Barcelona.
However, Barcelona have vehemently denied the allegations stating that the payments had nothing to do with it. Prosecutors have said that FC Barcelona paid over €7 million to DASNIL 95 and NILSAT, both companies owned by Negreira, between 2001-2018.
🚨 Barcelona have been charged with corruption by Spanish prosecutors over payments made to the former vice-president of Spain’s referees’ committee.
(Source: RMC Sport) pic.twitter.com/RMx27RgDZW
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) March 10, 2023
The club, in their defence, has said that the payments were made to obtain scouting reports on referees in the league and were completely legal. These reports included how players should conduct themselves around different referees.
However, a report by El Mundo said that after being fired as a consultant by Barcelona, Negreira offered to help the club with the…
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