The “Negreira Case,” one of Spanish football`s most tumultuous legal sagas, has entered a critical new phase. A Barcelona court has formally ordered FC Barcelona to provide all contracts and supporting documentation related to the €8 million paid to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira and his associated companies between 2001 and 2018.
According to reports, investigators have found no trace of original contracts or written justification for these payments within Barcelona’s archives. These substantial sums were allegedly for “refereeing advisory” services. This alarming lack of a paper trail has significantly intensified suspicions regarding the true nature of the club`s relationship with Negreira, a former vice-president of Spain’s Referees Committee (CTA).
Intensifying Judicial Scrutiny and Key Testimonies
The court`s order goes beyond administrative requests, now summoning Barcelona as a legal entity to provide testimony. Key figures, including former coaches Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde, along with current club president Joan Laporta, are slated to appear as witnesses on November 25. The core of the judicial inquiry is to ascertain whether these transactions constituted legitimate consulting fees or if they represented an illicit attempt to influence refereeing decisions in Barcelona’s favor—an accusation that could lead to severe sports corruption charges.
The court has specifically requested “any type of material” that could justify Negreira’s invoicing, including detailed written reports, service records, or any communications exchanged between the club and the former referee. To date, no physical evidence has emerged to corroborate Barcelona’s long-standing claim that the payments were solely for lawful technical advice on officiating and scouting young players.
In previous testimonies, former presidents Bartomeu and Rosell defended the arrangement, stating Negreira’s services were limited to providing tactical reports and evaluations of refereeing standards. However, inconsistencies in witness statements and the persistent absence of verifiable contracts have necessitated this deeper judicial intervention, adding considerable legal pressure on the club’s leadership.
Expanding Scope and Future Hearings
The court’s investigation is broadening its scope, with several other key figures called for questioning in the coming months. Club representative Elena Fort is expected to testify on January 27, and former president Joan Gaspart on February 6.
Crucially, former referee Ricardo Segura, who has been employed by the Catalan giants since 2021 to provide “refereeing advisory services,” has also been summoned. He is expected to explain his current role and clarify whether it mirrors Negreira’s prior engagement, raising concerns that Barcelona may have continued similar arrangements even after the scandal became public.
This development underscores how deeply the controversy has permeated the club’s operations, reigniting questions over Barcelona’s governance and transparency practices during a period already marked by significant financial strain and boardroom instability.
Pivotal Moments Ahead for the Club
The next critical phase of the investigation will center around the November 25 hearing, where Laporta, Enrique, and Valverde will provide their testimonies. Their accounts could prove pivotal in determining whether the €8 million paid to Negreira’s companies was for legitimate consulting services or represented a serious breach of trust and fair play regulations.
Furthermore, the court will rigorously review any documentation Barcelona provides in response to its order—a factor that will be decisive in shaping the future course of the case. Should the club fail to produce adequate records, suspicions of financial and sporting misconduct may deepen significantly.
As legal scrutiny intensifies, FC Barcelona finds itself navigating complex courtroom battles while simultaneously pursuing its on-pitch ambitions. The club also faces the daunting prospect of extended judicial proceedings that could potentially stretch well into 2026. The outcome of the upcoming testimonies may finally signal whether the club can begin to move past one of the most damaging scandals in its modern history.
