According to reports ‘Barcelona Faces Champions League Ban Amid Bribery Allegations’ Barcelona faces the possibility of a Champions League ban following accusations of attempting to bribe referees.
A recent report by Spanish publication El Debate reveals that Judge Joaquin Aguirre has formally charged Barcelona with bribery, alleging payments of approximately £6 million to former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees, Jose Maria Enruquez Negreira.
Various Spanish media outlets, including AS, had previously disclosed that Barcelona made payments totaling €7 million (£6.1 million) to Negreira between 2001 and 2018 for what was described as ‘undocumented’ verbal advice. This advice was purported to secure impartial treatment from referees during matches.
Former Barcelona presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, along with Negreira and his son Javier Enriquez Romero, have all been implicated in these charges.
The law expressly forbids public officials from receiving rewards for the execution of their public duties. This decision is influenced by the position of the Supreme Court, which categorizes Negreira as an individual fulfilling a public function.
Barcelona’s current president, Joan Laporta, has refrained from commenting on the scandal, which could potentially lead to a Champions League ban for the team under the management of Xavi.
Allegedly, Negreira received the funds through a shell company set up by former Barcelona director Josep Contreras, who is claimed to have earned a 50% commission.
This latest update from the judge deals a significant blow to Xavi and his team, who made an impressive comeback last season by clinching the La Liga title, triumphing over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona currently tops the league table as they seek to cap their Champions League return with a victory, a feat they haven’t achieved since the 2014/15 season.
Javier Tebas, the President of La Liga, had earlier called on Barcelona president Laporta to provide an explanation regarding this matter. Rafael Yuste, the club’s vice-president, then provided an update, stating on Barca TV that a law firm has been engaged to initiate a thorough investigation. The aim is to ensure complete transparency with club members, with payments to Negreira’s company, Dasnil, only ceasing in 2018.
Following the public disclosure of these details, former referee Alberto Gimenez alleges that Negreira insulted him during a clandestine match-fixing meeting. Speaking on RadioMarca, Gimenez revealed that he had faced pressure from Negreira during a meeting held in the company of other referees.
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Facts To Know About Football Club Barcelona
Here are some facts to know about football club Barcelona:
- Barcelona is one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in the world, having been founded in 1899.
- The club has won 26 La Liga titles, 30 Copa del Rey titles, and 5 UEFA Champions League titles.
- Barcelona is one of the few football clubs in the world to be owned by its members.
- The club’s home stadium, Camp Nou, is the largest stadium in Europe with a capacity of over 99,000.
- Barcelona is known for its distinctive style of play, which is based on possession and attacking football.
- The club has produced some of the greatest players in the history of football, including Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff, Xavi Hernández, and Andrés Iniesta.
- Barcelona is one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in the world, having been founded in 1899.
- The club has won 26 La Liga titles, 30 Copa del Rey titles, and 5 UEFA Champions League titles.
- Barcelona is one of the few football clubs in the world to be owned by its members.
- The club’s home stadium, Camp Nou, is the largest stadium in Europe with a capacity of over 99,000.
- Barcelona is known for its distinctive style of play, which is based on possession and attacking football.
- The club has produced some of the greatest players in the history of football, including Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff, Xavi Hernández, and Andrés Iniesta.