Enríquez Negreira provided a wide range of gifts to referees, financed through payments routed from FC Barcelona. The affair surrounding the club’s payments to the second official in the refereeing hierarchy shed light on how those funds were used and the kinds of gifts offered to officials involved in matches.
When the payments from FC Barcelona to the individual responsible for refereeing matters became public, details about the interaction between Negreira and referees emerged, along with the nature of the gifts. This coverage expanded between 2001 and 2018 and spurred renewed attention on the relationships and exchanges that occurred around match officiating during that period.
The newspaper El Mundo disclosed the assortment of gifts that referees received, funded by the money Negreira accumulated to support his role with the club, based on documents from the company involved in invoicing FC Barcelona for these services.
Among the items described were personalized yellow and red cards for referees, along with cardholders and even event cards used to draw the field at games. The lists also show other practical items linked to officiating and game logistics.
One notable entry on the expense list, which the tax authorities categorized as non-deductible, referenced ham purchases totaling 10,000 euros, pointing to a broader pattern of gifts and hospitality tied to the refereeing team.
The accounting materials come from the records of a company that supplied services to FC Barcelona, Dasnil, which also indicated ticket donations for multiple matches. This documentation helps trace the financial channels through which gifts and favors were extended to referees during the relevant years.
The lists of gifts also include items such as corkscrews, toasters, sandwiches, blankets, pants, laser pointers, wines, candy, liqueurs, raffle tickets, beach shovels, umbrellas, and cooler bags. These entries paint a picture of a wide array of gestures aimed at influencing or reciprocating for perceived favorable treatment in officiating decisions.
Additionally, the records reveal meals arranged for members of the refereeing association at seafood venues in Madrid and Barcelona, illustrating how hospitality was utilized within the network surrounding football officiating during that era.
These revelations contribute to an ongoing debate about integrity and governance in football, highlighting the importance of clear financial practices, transparency, and independent oversight in professional sports organizations.