Real submits large dossier to UEFA over alleged €8.4m Barca–Negreira payments
October 2, 2026 00:10
Real Madrid has told UEFA it has provided “evidence of extraordinary gravity” relating to payments made by Barcelona to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice‑president of Spain’s referees' committee. The documents, reported to be more than 50,000 pages, are linked to allegations that Barcelona paid €8.4m between 2001 and 2018.
UEFA confirmed receipt of the material, describing the submission as “substantial” and saying its ethics and disciplinary inspectors will “assess it as part of their ongoing review”.
CLUB RESPONSES
Real said it wants the inquiry to proceed “as quickly as possible until its complete conclusion” and urged officials to “adopt the corresponding decisions in accordance with the seriousness of the proven facts”.
Barcelona reiterated that UEFA has “not opened any new proceedings” against the club. The statement adds that “proceedings were initiated in 2023, with the appointment of two investigators who have since carried out the action they deemed appropriate” and that the club “has always complied with all their requests.” Barcelona also noted the file remains subject to the outcome of criminal proceedings taking place in Spain.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
The payments to Negreira first emerged amid a tax authorities’ investigation. It has been alleged the money was used to influence referees; Barcelona has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying the fees were for scouting and technical reports supplied by Negreira’s Dasnil 95 company.
UEFA investigators previously decided in June 2023 that Barcelona would not face punishment, and the club has continued to take part in European competition since then. A Barcelona court and criminal authorities in Spain are also examining the matter. La Liga president Javier Tebas previously said the case was “time‑barred in sports law, but not in criminal law.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
UEFA’s ethics and disciplinary inspectors will assess Real’s submission as part of their ongoing review. Barcelona said investigators have not made any new requests to the club nor forwarded Real Madrid’s complaint to them; should they do so, Barcelona said it will respond accordingly.