UEFA has confirmed it received a substantial collection of documents from Real Madrid as part of its investigation into alleged payments by Barcelona to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees.
The governing body confirmed on Thursday afternoon that it had received multiple documents relating to the case, which concerns payments allegedly made by Barcelona to Negreira over several seasons.
The matter has remained a major issue in Spanish football in recent years. Real Madrid have previously argued that Barcelona should be stripped of titles if wrongdoing is established.
Real Madrid also released a statement calling on UEFA to pursue its investigation with urgency, citing concerns about the integrity of competition and confidence in refereeing.
“In light of the communication issued today by UEFA regarding the so-called ‘Negreira case,’ Real Madrid C.F. states the following,” the statement read.
“UEFA has confirmed the receipt of the complaint filed by Real Madrid C.F. and the continuation of the investigation concerning payments made over the past two decades by F.C. Barcelona to the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees.
“The complaint filed by our club includes extensive documentation and evidence regarding events of extraordinary seriousness, which directly affect the integrity of the competition and confidence in the refereeing system.
“Real Madrid C.F. considers it essential that, now that UEFA has this documentation, the investigation proceeds with the utmost urgency until its full conclusion, and that the competent bodies take the appropriate decisions in accordance with the severity of the verified facts.
“Our club will continue to actively collaborate with UEFA and take all actions within its power to clarify events that it deems incompatible with the principles of integrity, transparency, and fair play that should govern European football.”