RFEF officials disclosed that a person with firsthand knowledge of the events would be able to confirm whether the government did not condemn someone who bore responsibilities. The aim was to file a formal complaint against that individual. This statement came at a press briefing where RFEF and referees addressed the Negreira payments in question, linked to Barcelona and José María Enríquez Negreira, spanning 2001 to 2018, during his tenure as vice-chairman of the Technical Referee Committee. Evidence points to a long-running financial arrangement; the exact nature of services and the timing of payments remains under scrutiny. [Citation: El Períodico de España, sourcing multiple insiders familiar with the relationship between Rubiales and Soler, and how it related to the federation and national sports bodies.]
A journalist asked if the reference was to Albert Soler. Camps neither confirmed nor denied, deflecting the question about the organization’s second-in-command after José Manuel Franco, who served as executive director of the CSD from May 2021 to January 2023, under Minister Miquel Iceta. The exchange underscored ambiguity around who held influence in top sports offices. Soler, a former Barça manager from 2014 to 2021, had become a focal point of scrutiny amid the broader narrative involving Josep Maria Bartomeu and the federation’s leadership. The reliability of Soler’s awareness about payments to Enríquez Negreira and his alleged connection to Barça’s reports were questioned by sources close to Soler, who stated he was unaware of any ties beyond what the press conveyed. He reportedly testified in relation to Javier Enríquez’s Barça reports, but did not know of any direct link to Enríquez Negreira. [Citation: El Períodico de España]
Revenge or Betrayal
So what explains the emphasis on this issue from the RFEF? Camps suggests, in effect, that there are indications of deeper knowledge. Within the national sports governance ecosystem, questions linger about whether former referees were aware of the vice president’s involvement. The prevailing view is that personal grievances and perceived betrayals may be driving actions at the highest levels of the sport in Spain. [Citation: El Períodico de España]
Reporting from a national press outlet notes that seven unnamed sources familiar with Rubiales and Soler described two leaders who had long shared a working history. They recalled a relationship built over years through various Catalan public institutions and sporting roles, creating a web of connections that influenced decisions within the federation and its interactions with government bodies.
Soler’s tenure as Barça’s manager was followed by a shift in leadership when Bartomeu stepped down and José Manuel Franco was named Minister of State for Sport, replacing Irene Lozano. The government then sought a general manager with relevant experience, ultimately choosing Soler. Some observers saw this appointment as a sign of alliance-building between football governance and public administration, while others viewed it as a strategic alignment with Rubiales’s circle. The dynamics fed into tensions over projects the government considered strategic for the current mandate, including a professional women’s league, a new Sporting Law, and a program to support elite Olympic athletes, later known as Team Spain.
A critical point of divergence involved the professional women’s league. Different accounts suggest Rubiales opposed pushing the league toward full professionalism to maintain federation control, while others contend Soler supported or facilitated the move in alignment with government aims. Various sources insist that Soler consistently prioritized public duties and the state’s broader interests, though interpretations of his motives varied across offices. [Citation: El Períodico de España]
Loss of Trust
The deteriorating relationship extended to José Manuel Franco, whose public image suffered after private speeches by the RFEF president were disclosed, prompting investigations into allegations of corruption and improper management in business matters. Two complaints from football bodies reached the Sport Administrative Court with potential implications for Rubiales. The government indicated that legal due process should proceed before any administrative actions, while Soler pressed for the court to render a decision. [Citation: El Períodico de España]
The narrative also touched on a controversial resignation: Soler’s exit from the government came after a sequence of high-profile projects reached completion. Post‑departure, he entered a consulting arrangement with a firm connected to the broader sports sector, including LaLiga, which drew attention and concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Supporters emphasized that Soler did not manage or influence the cited accounts, while critics suggested ongoing sensitivity around the Barça‑Negreira issue. [Citation: El Períodico de España]
As the saga evolved, attention returned to whether Soler had access to or concealed details about the Barça–Negreira relationship. The press and observers awaited a formal decision on whether the RFEF would file a complaint, and whether the unfolding narrative signaled vengeance, political maneuvering, or a genuine corrective step within Spanish football governance. [Citation: El Períodico de España]