AS: UEFA reopen Barcelona investigation after Real Madrid submit 50,000 pages of documents

According to Diario AS, UEFA has officially reopened its investigation into Barcelona's "Negreira case" after Real Madrid submitted a substantial volume of relevant documents to the organization.

Real Madrid submitted 50,000 pages of documents, thousands of files, evidence, and statements from all parties involved, with the explicit aim of prompting UEFA to formally investigate the "Negreira case" and its implications. While Spanish sports authorities determined that the case had exceeded the statute of limitations, UEFA considers it still valid and intends to pursue it. The case has already triggered significant concern at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.

UEFA aims to determine the full scope of events between 2001 and 2018, when Barcelona paid €8.4 million to José María Enríquez Negreira, then vice president of the Spanish Football Federation's Technical Committee of Referees. UEFA seeks to clarify the purpose of these payments, what Barcelona hoped to achieve, and the actual influence these payments—disguised as "reports"—may have had.

When the case became public in April 2023, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin called it one of the most serious incidents he had encountered in football: "For two reasons, I cannot comment on this directly. First, because we have an independent disciplinary committee dealing with this. Second, because I have not looked into the details of this case. However, I can state this: I have been briefed on the situation, and it is extremely serious. This is one of the gravest things I have ever seen in football. At the LaLiga level, the case has certainly passed the statute of limitations and will not result in sporting sanctions, but the Spanish civil prosecutor's investigation remains ongoing. However, as far as UEFA is concerned, nothing is beyond the statute of limitations."

For the past three and a half years, UEFA had been awaiting judicial proceedings, but Real Madrid's submission has changed the situation. UEFA now considers the matter serious enough to formally open an investigation, and the documents submitted are being carefully reviewed by the appointed case investigator.

Following the formal opening of the case, the next steps will include a detailed examination of the evidence, direct information gathering from those involved, including their statements, and the opportunity for Barcelona to present its defense.

Real Madrid has requested that Barcelona be stripped of all titles won during the period of payments to Negreira. Under Article 4 of the UEFA Statutes, if UEFA determines that a club attempted to alter the normal course of a match, UEFA has the authority to ban the club from its competitions at any time.

This case parallels the Premier League's ongoing sanctions against Manchester City for conduct between 2009 and 2018, which could result in relegation. UEFA had previously banned Manchester City from European competitions for two seasons, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport ultimately ruled in City's favor.

UEFA Official Statement:

"UEFA confirms that it has received a substantial volume of documents submitted by Real Madrid Club de Fútbol relating to the ongoing investigation into FC Barcelona involving José María Enríquez Negreira, former Vice President of the Spanish Football Federation's Technical Committee of Referees (the so-called 'Negreira case').

These documents have also been received by the UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors, who will assess them in their continuing review of the case."

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com