In a development that further unsettles ongoing football governance conversations, the general secretary of the Spanish refereeing body disclosed on Thursday that a referee refused to respond to inquiries from the federal Integrity department seeking clarity on the Negreira case. The official statement underscored that all but one referees, assistants, delegates, and informants submitted to the internal probe within the allotted deadlines, documenting their cooperation in writing. It was noted that the group was evaluating how to handle a scenario in which Rubiales’ deputy did not provide requested information through the proper channels.
Authorities did not disclose the identity of the individual referee who remained silent during the investigation. The unnamed official was present at an ongoing match, accompanied by Luis Medina Cantalejo, who chairs the Technical Refereeing Board, and by many active and former referees. The presence of Rubiales outside Europe during this period was mentioned as context to the proceedings.
Estrada Fernández will not referee today after denouncing the Negreira case
Xavier Estrada Fernández, a respected member of the refereeing corps, did not participate in today’s assignments either. He has been at odds with some colleagues after filing a personal complaint related to José María Enríquez Negreira. The Catalan official has not been assigned to perform the usual VAR duties for this weekend’s matches, though his involvement in related tasks remains frequent in daily operations.
The Negreira affair centers on allegations that FC Barcelona made payments to Enríquez Negreira over nearly two decades for advisory services linked to refereeing. The matter escalated following a tax review into a contract valued at €1.4 million spanning 2016 to 2018, a development that triggered an investigation by the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office and was reported by Cadena Ser. Further journalistic disclosures later surfaced, detailing contractual links dating back to 2001, and suggesting that a former vice president of the CTA received substantial compensation for his role.
Key figures highlighted in the case include a former Barça coach who allegedly facilitated arrangements and who passed away in November. Reports indicate that this individual was previously accused of diverting tens of millions from the RFEF during a period when Ángel María Villar led the federation’s formation. The unfolding narrative has prompted calls for accountability and a clearer separation of governance and arbitration matters within the football community.
Barcelona’s club leadership has pledged an external inquiry into the matter. Although Joan Laporta is associated with a former vice president of the CTA, the organization has yet to provide a fuller explanation of the investigation’s scope or its implications for current operations. In the broader context, the case has sparked discussions about the integrity of refereeing appointments, the mechanisms for reporting concerns, and the safeguards necessary to preserve trust in national football structures.
The events have intensified dialogue about how conflicts of interest might be mitigated within federations and clubs, especially in high-stakes environments where arbitration, coaching decisions, and governance intersect. Observers continue to ask how such partnerships could influence decision-making processes and what reforms might strengthen transparency across the sport in both Spain and neighboring regions. Attribution: Cadena Ser
As the situation evolves, the football community is watching how investigations unfold, how information is disclosed, and how authorities balance due process with the public demand for clarity in a case that touches the core of refereeing credibility and administrative oversight. The responses from the federation, clubs, and officials will likely shape policy discussions for years to come, with potential implications for how refereeing talent is developed, evaluated, and integrated into the broader ecosystem of professional football.