Barcelona: European football powerhouse FC Barcelona is in the midst of a major controversy as the club faces charges of alleged bribery. The accusations involve payments, reportedly exceeding €7 million ($7.3 million), made to companies owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) and a former referee in the Spanish top-flight league. The payments are said to have occurred over an extensive period from 2001 to 2018, according to a report by Forbes.
Spanish police, responding to the gravity of the situation, conducted raids at the offices of the refereeing committee at the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in Madrid on Thursday, seeking crucial documentation related to the case. While no arrests have been planned, the investigation has escalated, with the potential to disrupt the functioning of the Catalan club both on and off the field.
The scandal has also ensnared former Barcelona presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, both accused of similar charges. Rosell served as the club’s president from 2010 to 2014, while Bartomeu succeeded him until his resignation in 2020. The current president, Joan Laporta, who took office in 2021, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the payments were for “technical reports on refereeing.”
This recent development could potentially lead to Barcelona facing suspension from the Champions League. The payments in question were reportedly made during Negreira’s tenure as the vice president of the refereeing committee.
Amidst these off-field developments, Barcelona finds itself in a strong position in La Liga, currently holding the third spot in the standings. Under the leadership of coach Xavi Hernandez, the team has maintained an unbeaten streak through seven domestic league games.
Comments