Enríquez Negreira and a shower of chapapote

To the point: the former referee Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira was vice president of Technical Commission of Referees of the RFEF since then 1994 to 2018. And as reported by the “Cadena SER” from Barcelona – I insist, Barcelona -, the prosecution is investigating that between 2016 and 2018 Barçapaid the amount of 1.4 million euros to a company property of the former arbitrator, as arbitration advice. These alleged payments took place during Josep María Bartomeu’s tenure. And by the way, said various media in Negreira’s statement to the Tax Office, the former vice president of the CTA “He has not produced any document proving that he has provided a service to Barcelona.”

As soon as the news is out, Joan Laporta He has gone to the crossroads to address the partner and kill the messenger:Any biased interpretation insinuating things that aren’t will get the club’s proportional response. It is no coincidence that this information is coming out now.” Given his position, the defense of his club and its members, his message is easy to understand. However, its content is like a fire truck going the wrong way. The news comes from Barcelona, ​​not Madrid. And it is published by journalists who have no particular doubts about attacking Barça’s interests. On the contrary, they have spent years exposing information about the alleged irregularities that Bartomeu has committed at Barça commit Open eyes to partners.

The point is that Caesar’s wife must not only be honest, but appear so. It is incomprehensible that during the Bartomeu era, Barça resorted to an arbitration advisory service and hired a man who was part of the Technical Committee of Referees. Firstly, because the club could and should have avoided any suspicion, no matter how small. And second, because you didn’t have to be an Einstein to understand that if this came to light, it would be used by those who want Barça to sink. Some will put their boots on with this. With the heels forward. Laporta does not want tendentious interpretations, innuendo, or a shower of moral tar, but that is exactly what the outgoing board should have thought when they decided to pay money to a former referee who held a relevant position in the Referees’ Technical Commission. Now, doll.

for more that the messenger is killed, no matter how many black hands the culés imagine, no matter how many Barcelona fans shoot at the journalists who have been broadcasting the nonsense from the stage for years bartomeu, and no matter how many tweeters insult, kick or repeat what other clubs do or did, it is very difficult to defend the clumsiness of the previous board of directors in this management. As much as now the airlift arbitration spirits come out, as much as someone spits out the names Megan Davila, Mateu Lahoz, Pep Plaza or Sanchez Arminohowever much the emphasis is placed on conspiracy and the famous ‘arbitral balance’ of God all, the decision made at the time was a grave mistake. An indefensible one, be it one of Barça, Betis or Getafe. At the time, if the outgoing Barcelona board thought it appropriate to seek arbitration advice, it should have done so with someone not connected to the Referees’ Technical Committee. Easy as that. Of those powders, these muds. And there is no more wax than the one that burns.

Reuben Uria