LaLiga pressed the National Court judge who is handling the ‘Soule case’ to look into alleged irregularities in the way Ángel María Villar led the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) when he served as its president. The focus is on whether payments by the RFEF surfaced in relation to the son of José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-chairman of the Technical Referees Committee (CTA), during the Basque leader’s tenure. The aim is to determine if any compensation or support arrangements crossed lines of legality in the eyes of prosecutors and the football community in Spain.
RFEF reportedly disbursed approximately 4,400 euros to Javier Enríquez in several installments between 2011 and 2016, according to Vozpópuli and corroborated by legal sources cited by Europa Press. The payments have become a point of contention in discussions surrounding the broader dispute over governance and oversight within Spanish football’s leadership during this period.
LaLiga had previously asked the RFEF to account for a sequence of payments that were viewed as potentially improper. While these questions were being raised, the attention remained firmly on the larger Negreira case, which has continued to generate headlines and debate about funding and influence within the sport’s administration.
The No. 1 Central Investigation Court agreed last August to expand the inquiry into the ‘Soule case,’ while a number of related reports were still outstanding. The judicial process is moving through various strands, including potential irregularities connected to the construction and operation of football facilities across Spain as highlighted in correspondence from the General Intervention of State Administration (IGAE) to authorities involved in the case. These letters were obtained and reviewed by Europa Press, shedding light on the concerns about spending and the oversight of contracts tied to football infrastructure projects.
Recent developments brought renewed scrutiny when the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office disclosed its own ongoing review of a substantial payment, estimated at 1.7 million euros, made to Enríquez Negreira by FC Barcelona. This disclosure has intensified the discussion about possible influence, governance, and accountability within major football institutions, prompting questions from fans, clubs, and regulators in North America and beyond who follow how football associations are financed and overseen. The convergence of these examinations underscores the need for transparency in the ways football bodies manage funds and relationships with key figures who have operated at the intersection of administration and sport.
Observers note that the case touches on long-standing issues in Spanish football—namely, how payments and contracts linked to refereeing and infrastructure projects should be disclosed, audited, and regulated. Legal analysts in Europe and North America have highlighted the importance of independent oversight, clear procurement processes, and robust governance rules to maintain the integrity of the sport. The evolving narrative around the ‘Negreira case’ and the related ‘Soule case’ continues to shape discussions about reform, governance, and the balance of power within football federations. These debates have resonance for administrators and fans who want to see fair play extend beyond the pitch and into the governance of the game itself .