The investigation into the ‘Negreira case’ revealed close relations maintained by numerous first and second league referees, some active, with the family of José María Enríquez Negreira, former vice-president of the Committee of Technical Arbitration (CTA). Approximately twenty members testified before the Civil Guard. Within the scope of the case filed in the Barcelona Court of Investigation No. 1. Research resources They stated that they found “collusion” between the referees and NegreirasAlthough none of them know that the former referee leader and his son receive money from FC Barcelona.
A report submitted to the court by the Civil Guard shows that agents took statements from around twenty referees as well as former Barça officials last summer. Referees, Among them were those active in the VAR room such as Mateu Lahoz, Jaime Latre and Pino Zamorano.He explained that some of his colleagues went to dinners and parties, such as karaoke, with Enríquez Negreira, as well as going to eat at his wife’s bar in Barcelona.
They did this when they went to referee in Barcelona or nearby places. When it was their turn at Camp Nou, Negreira’s son Javier Enríquez, who was also accused, would always pick them up from the hotel and take them to the stadium, and sometimes these trips were made in “remarkable” minibuses.. Of the referees questioned, Latre was the one who had the most contact with Negreiras since he went to dinner at his wife’s bar. He paid Javier Enríquez “by transfer” for the services of the then CTA vice president and also a coach.
Members stated that the CTA vice president’s son was able to complete this training, It was also offered to players and coaches, thanks to his father’s power on the committee. Neither statement mentioned a possible request to change the outcome or any bribery.
hidden payments
In the presence of the Civil Guard, senior Barça officials also made statements regarding the payments the club had made to Negreiras over nearly two decades; These payments amount to over 7.5 million euros for work that the inspectors did not consider justified. Among those named were members of the Compliance office, which is responsible for financial control to prevent crimes.Like his manager from 2016 to 2019, Sabine Paquer, who stated that she had never seen and was unaware of any invoices or proof of payment belonging to Enríquez Negreira and his son.
Therefore, researchers believe that this information is hidden by those responsible for the club when “relevant” at the accounting levelAnd. The person responsible for compliance also emphasized that he learned about the money given to Enríquez Negreira’s companies from the press and that even those responsible for internal audit did not comment on this issue. He also said that if he knew about these payments, he had started a “dossier” to find out their source and justification.
In the coming weeks, the Civil Guard will submit its final report on the ‘Negreira case’ to the procedure and from there the court can start naming defendants accused of bribery, sports corruption, unfair management and forgery of commercial documents. Former Barça presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, as well as other former managers and Enríquez Negreira and his son, who claims to suffer from a degenerative disease. Although the prosecutor’s office appealed the judge’s decision, Joan Laporta is also being investigated for bribery in his first phase as president of Barça. Appeals before the Barcelona Court are pending.
The investigation into the ‘Negreira case’ revealed close relations maintained by numerous first and second league referees, some active, with the family of José María Enríquez Negreira, former vice-president of the Committee of Technical Arbitration (CTA). Approximately twenty members testified before the Civil Guard. Within the scope of the case filed in the Barcelona Court of Investigation No. 1. Research resources They stated that they found “collusion” between the referees and NegreirasAlthough none of them know that the former referee leader and his son receive money from FC Barcelona.
A report submitted to the court by the Civil Guard shows that agents took statements from around twenty referees as well as former Barça officials last summer. Referees, Among them were those active in the VAR room such as Mateu Lahoz, Jaime Latre and Pino Zamorano.He explained that some of his colleagues went to dinners and parties, such as karaoke, with Enríquez Negreira, as well as going to eat at his wife’s bar in Barcelona.
They did this when they went to referee in Barcelona or nearby places. When it was their turn at Camp Nou, Negreira’s son Javier Enríquez, who was also accused, would always pick them up from the hotel and take them to the stadium, and sometimes these trips were made in “remarkable” minibuses.. Of the referees questioned, Latre was the one who had the most contact with Negreiras since he went to dinner at his wife’s bar. He paid Javier Enríquez “by transfer” for the services of the then CTA vice president and also a coach.
Members stated that the CTA vice president’s son was able to complete this training, It was also offered to players and coaches, thanks to his father’s power on the committee. Neither statement mentioned a possible request to change the outcome or any bribery.
hidden payments
In the presence of the Civil Guard, senior Barça officials also made statements regarding the payments the club had made to Negreiras over nearly two decades; These payments amount to over 7.5 million euros for work that the inspectors did not consider justified. Among those named were members of the Compliance office, which is responsible for financial control to prevent crimes.Like his manager from 2016 to 2019, Sabine Paquer, who stated that she had never seen and was unaware of any invoices or proof of payment belonging to Enríquez Negreira and his son.
Therefore, researchers believe that this information is hidden by those responsible for the club when “relevant” at the accounting levelAnd. The person responsible for compliance also emphasized that he learned about the money given to Enríquez Negreira’s companies from the press and that even those responsible for internal audit did not comment on this issue. He also said that if he knew about these payments, he had started a “dossier” to find out their source and justification.
In the coming weeks, the Civil Guard will submit its final report on the ‘Negreira case’ to the procedure and from there the court can start naming defendants accused of bribery, sports corruption, unfair management and forgery of commercial documents. Former Barça presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, as well as other former managers and Enríquez Negreira and his son, who claims to suffer from a degenerative disease. Although the prosecutor’s office appealed the judge’s decision, Joan Laporta is also being investigated for bribery in his first phase as president of Barça. Appeals before the Barcelona Court are pending.