UEFA has confirmed that it will be launching an investigation into Barcelona’s alleged involvement in the Negreira case. The accusations revolve around the Catalan giants reportedly making payments to Enriquez Negreira, a former LaLiga match official and vice-president of the referees’ committee, over a 17-year period.
Barcelona has faced legal proceedings in Spain over the scandal, and UEFA has now announced that it will be exploring whether the club’s association with Negreira has violated any of its own regulations.
UEFA STANCE
A statement released by UEFA read,
“In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have today been appointed to conduct an investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework by FC Barcelona in connection with the so-called ‘Caso Negreira’. Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
The news comes as Barça sits comfortably atop La Liga, 12 points ahead of their closest rivals. Barcelona’s club President, Joan Laporta, has vehemently denied all claims made against the club.
READ THE COMPLETE NEGREIRA CASE
Barcelona has faced accusations of paying Negreira €7 million to influence results, which has rocked the club. However, the Prosecutor’s Office in Spain saw no evidence that the alleged payoffs to Negreira has led to result manipulation or have influenced the result of any match in La Liga.
Barcelona lodges case against 5 Journalists
Barcelona has taken a strong stance against those attempting to tarnish its reputation. They have filed lawsuits against journalists who have reportedly attempted to damage the image of the club. With regard to the information related to the payments to Negreira.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE LAWSUITS
CONCLUSION
As the Negreira scandal continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what the ultimate impact on Barcelona will be. With legal proceedings in Spain ongoing and now UEFA launching its own investigation, the club will have to navigate a potentially challenging period. However, the recent lack of evidence found by the Prosecutor’s Office in Spain will likely give Barcelona some confidence. As they look to defend themselves against these accusations. It remains to be seen how this situation will develop, but one thing is clear: Barcelona will not back down in their efforts to protect their reputation and uphold their values.