The National Court is examining payments by the Royal Spanish Football Federation for coaching services. Javier Enríquez, son of José María Enríquez Negreira who once chaired the technical referees committee, is mentioned in an order dated March 13. The document was obtained by El Periódico de España from the Prensa Ibérica group and bears the signature of Judge Alejandro Abascal, whom the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office had assigned to the General State Intervention (IGAE) to review the matter. The inquiry concerns coaching services billed between 2011 and 2016 for amounts around 4,400 euros.
Relating to
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In a recent address by the RFEF general secretary, Andreu Camps, it is noted that Javier Enríquez benefited from a 13,000 euro payment through a premium arrangement, tied to his role on the senior squad during Euro 2008, where Spain emerged victorious under the management of Luis Aragonés. This timeline connects multiple figures to the broader inquiry, highlighting the cross-section of coaching assignments and payments that have drawn scrutiny.
Background and Context
The decision by Judge Abascal followed a briefing from LaLiga to the National Court’s central order court. That court is currently overseeing investigations into suspected corruption linked to the Football Association. The federal body, led at the time by leaders associated with Luis Rubiales, is alleged to have provided invoices or subsidies for certain claimed expenses. The discourse around these payments centers on whether they influenced football governance or refereeing decisions during crucial matches.
According to documents cited by LaLiga and reviewed by the reporting outlet, some of the alleged coaching services were funded by the organization led by Javier Tebas. About 18.75 percent of the funds reportedly came from revenue generated by pools or betting activities.
Against FC Barcelona
The National Court’s ruling became public shortly after the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office disclosed its own action against FC Barcelona as a legal entity. The prosecutors allege that the club continued a scheme of corruption involving the payment of around 7 million euros for purported advisory work conducted for the former referee Enríquez Negreira. The Public Ministry argues that these payments tended to favor Barcelona in referee decisions, potentially impacting match results involving the club.
Other defendants named in the case include former FC Barcelona presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, as well as former club managers Oscar Grau and Albert Soler. The proceedings depict a web of interactions among club leadership, refereeing authorities, and external coaches, all set within the broader narrative of governance and accountability in the sport.
Contreras’ Involvement
The Ministry of Finance blocked the Tresep company in October 2014, a company cited in connection with the former director of FC Barcelona, who passed away in December. The report indicates that Josep Contreras Arjona prepared payments attributed to Enríquez Negreira’s work for Barcelona. The decision was signed by Rosa M. Prieto del Rey, the head of the Tax Management Department at the State Tax Administration, and reported by El Periódico de España. The Royal Spanish Football Federation has defended the legality of its actions, asserting that all conduct complied with applicable rules and regulations.