The president of Barcelona was among those singled out during a gathering organized by Real Madrid supporters ahead of tonight’s high-stakes match. Real Madrid hosts Barcelona for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals in a meeting that is already surrounded by tension stemming from the Negreira case, the controversy that has dominated headlines since its emergence.
Fans gathered on Rafael Salgado Street, on the north side of the Santiago Bernabéu, starting at 7:30 p.m. The aim was to voice their thoughts in the wake of the case, including a chorus directed at Joan Laporta, the Barcelona president. As chants filled the air, a refrain echoed through the crowd: Laporta pay me. The mood reflected a broader sense of grievance that has accompanied the proceedings surrounding the case and its implications for Spanish football.
As the Classic approached, supporters continued to vocalize their opinions, with the sentiment that the Negreira affair would cast a long shadow over the capital. The scene captured a moment of high emotion and testament to how quickly on-pitch events become intertwined with off-field controversies and the narratives they fuel.
The coverage of the day extended to notable social media posts and reactions from coverage outlets, illustrating how the event intersected with broader conversations about fairness, transparency, and governance in the sport. The focus remained on the semi-final clash, but the backdrop of the Negreira case added an extra layer of significance for fans and observers alike.
The Negreira case involves an investigation into payments amounting to 1.4 million euros made by Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice president of the Technical Commission of Referees, during the period from 2016 to 2018 when he held that position. The scrutiny centers on potential influence over refereeing decisions and the integrity of officiating in Spanish football.
Negreira, born in Barcelona in 1945, is a historic figure in Spanish football. He is a former referee who spent more than a decade guiding top-level matches and who, after his active career, served as Vice President of the Technical Commission of Referees from 1994 until the end of the 2017–18 season. His time in the top leagues covered numerous seasons, and his career in the refereeing world is well-remembered for its long tenure and regional ties to Catalonia.
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