In 2010 Girona FC engaged Soccercam SL to act as a mind coach for the club. José María Enríquez Negreira, who had served as vice-chairman of the Technical Referees Committee, faced questions from the Barcelona Prosecutor over payments amounting to 1.4 million euros for consulting duties. During the 15 months Negreira worked with Girona, one of the companies connected to the former top official of Spanish referees billed the club at least 55,000 euros plus VAT, travel expenses, and bonuses. These activities were managed by Javier Enríquez, the son of the former referees chief, who appears as a partner in Soccercam’s business records.
Negreira, who also worked as a professional referee for 13 seasons in Part One and another 13 in Part Two between 1975 and 1992, represented several companies including Dasnil 95 SL. Dasnil 95 SL was examined for payments to Barcelona by the prosecutor, with SER Catalunya reporting on connections to Barça between 2016 and 2018.
Negreira maintained that he offered Barcelona a consulting role that involved advising players on how to conduct themselves in meetings with referees and what actions were permissible depending on who was overseeing the match.
In September 2010, while still connected to the Technical Referees Committee as a substitute, Negreira’s network recruited him to Girona FC as a mind coach.
One year paid by Girona
Publicly available documents indicate that the Girona arrangement, described by Negreira as verbal guidance, would be documented as a contractual relationship with Girona FC from September 2010 to November 2011. EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA confirmed a decision by the Provincial Court regarding a dispute over the contract termination, which had occurred before its natural end.
In the first season, Soccercam SL charged 3,000 euros per month plus VAT, with travel costs and various bonuses for the mind coaching work. That season Girona finished eleventh in the Spanish Second Division. Negreira’s contract with the club ran through June 30, 2011; in the second phase his salary rose to 6,000 euros plus VAT. On November 5, he received a dismissal notice.
The company associated with the former vice president filed a lawsuit against Girona FC. The Girona Court of First Instance No. 2 initially ruled in favor of the company, ordering the club to pay 63,700 euros as compensation for early termination. A later procedure in the Girona State Court reduced the amount to the remaining salary for October, totaling 7,080 euros including VAT, plus five payments of 1,180 euros for November days.
Attempts to reach Soccercam for comment met with no success. Javier Enríquez Romero, the son of the former referee official, has appeared as the sole partner since 2017 and has carried out mind coaching duties in Girona. He holds a degree in administration and management of technology companies and previously played in the youth systems of Barça and Espanyol before stints with Sabadell, Sant Andreu, Hospitalet, and Valencia.
In Valencia, he founded his own audio-visual production company focused on tactical and arbitration analysis and later served as head of Valencia CF’s audio-visual department, contributing as a technical assistant alongside notable figures such as Jorge Valdano, Claudio Raineri, and Luis Aragonés. He also worked with the Spanish National Team during the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008.
The club chose not to issue a formal statement on the matter at the time.