According to SPORTbible, the long-running ‘Negreira Case’ has escalated significantly, with Real Madrid formally requesting UEFA to initiate disciplinary proceedings against fierce rivals FC Barcelona. The move was announced by Real Madrid through its official website and social media channels, marking a new chapter in one of Spanish football’s most controversial ongoing investigations.
As reported by SPORTbible, Real Madrid’s appeal to European football’s governing body comes after Barcelona launched legal action against the Madrid club. The lawsuit was triggered by comments made by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez during a press conference ahead of the club’s presidential election. Perez claimed that Barcelona had “stolen seven La Liga titles” during his time at the Santiago Bernabéu, remarks that were linked directly to the ongoing Negreira investigation.
The escalating Negreira case
According to SPORTbible, Real Madrid’s complaint to UEFA centres on allegations that Barcelona made payments to José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The payments, allegedly made through various corporate entities, remain at the core of the Negreira Case.
Real Madrid has argued that the alleged conduct represents “a systemic risk of the utmost seriousness to the integrity of competitions.”
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A statement from the club read: “Real Madrid emphasizes that these events, from the perspective of sports disciplinary law, constitute a systemic risk of the utmost seriousness to the integrity of competitions by demonstrating the existence of a structure of undue influence over the refereeing body, incompatible with the essential principles of competitive equality, neutrality, impartiality and unpredictability of the sporting result.”
Real Madrid’s allegations and demands
SPORTbible reports that Real Madrid is already participating in the criminal proceedings surrounding the Negreira case as a private prosecutor. The club has now urged UEFA to resume disciplinary proceedings and deliver a swift resolution.
In its statement, Real Madrid said: “In this context, Real Madrid has urged the immediate resumption of the disciplinary proceedings initiated by UEFA, considering it unacceptable that this situation has been prolonged, as its persistence seriously compromises the credibility of football, its institutions and its leaders and therefore demands a firm, exemplary and immediate response in the sporting arena, independent of the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings.”
The club believes the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the case continues to damage the credibility of football and its governing institutions.
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