This anti-corruption prosecutor argues that the Madrid case and the Negreira affair center on alleged corruption within the sport, asserting that the allegations seem to cast blame in this area. The defense teams push back against accepting a neutral or passive stance, while the investigating judge weighs whether to formally admit the defendant’s appearance. For now, the judge has agreed to the appearance on a provisional basis. The case involves La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation, and ongoing discussions at the Supreme Sports Council, with involvement from a Madrid-connected club. The Civil Guard, under the judge’s instruction, gathers records and identifies former executives connected to the Barça organization involved in the investigation.
Representatives for Barça’s former presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, along with one of the accused executives, recently submitted a letter in which Real Madrid is named as a private prosecution within the Negreira matter. The letter asserts that the victim, the entity undergoing criminal inquiry, is not a formal party in the investigations surrounding the 7.5 million euro payment made to former vice president of the Referee Committee, Enriquez Negreira, during the years 2001 to 2018. Bartomeu and Rosell contend that there is no evidence of damage warranting action against Madrid.
opposition
Defense counsel for those under investigation maintains that admitting specific charges against each football club without justification would hinder the investigative process. They note that Real Madrid’s ability to participate in the proceedings was justified. Bartomeu’s attorney, José María Fuster-Fabra, and Rosell’s legal team, including Pau Molins and Miguel Capuz on behalf of Albert Soler, challenge Real Madrid’s participation and emphasize the positions of other clubs tied to the Royal Football Association. The argument centers on procedural fairness and the proper scope of the case.
In a move that followed weeks of silence, a statement from the club led by Florentino Pérez said it would join the legal action on March 11. This decision was interpreted by some as an effort to influence the broader alliance surrounding the Super League project, creating social and public pressure around the matter. A letter dated March 23, directed to the court, signaled Madrid’s intent to participate, a step that was completed twelve days later when the documents were submitted to the investigating court.
The article at the heart of the dispute contends that FC Barcelona, as one of the principal competitors, influenced refereeing decisions in a way that could affect the outcomes of the competition and, by extension, the interests of other teams. The involvement of Real Madrid, and its stated interest in ensuring fairness in the sporting events it participates in, is presented as a separate but related concern by those following the case. The lawyer close to the Madrid side emphasizes that ensuring integrity in the sport remains a priority, while the opposing parties stress the need for a careful and transparent legal process to determine whether any harm occurred and who may be responsible.