Former Spanish international referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez has described Real Madrid’s recent actions in the Negreira case as “strange”, while insisting that UEFA’s latest statement contains nothing new to implicate Barcelona.
Speaking on the Spanish radio programme El Larguero on Cadena SER, Iturralde was responding to the latest developments in the dispute, including statements and additional documents submitted by Real Madrid to UEFA concerning the Catalan club.
He played down the significance of UEFA’s announcement, saying it was no more than a formal acknowledgement of information being received.
“This, as UEFA’s own statement confirms, is simply an announcement that they have submitted additional information in a case they have been examining since 2023,” Iturralde said. “This statement adds nothing else.”
The central issue in the Negreira case is whether there was any attempt to influence referees. Iturralde said the judicial investigation, which has continued for three years, had not established such interference.
“For three years, the Civil Guard has not proved, and will not prove, that there was any influence on any referee,” he said. “In other words, if no referee was influenced, then there is no sports corruption.”
Iturralde questions Real Madrid’s approach
Iturralde also criticised what he saw as an inconsistency in Real Madrid’s position.
“If there are 50,000 pages that implicitly prove the existence of sports corruption, as some people claim, what you have to do is submit them to the competent court, not to UEFA,” he said.
He also questioned the club’s call for UEFA to reach a decision quickly, given the length of the proceedings in Spain.
“It is strange that Real Madrid asked UEFA in its latest statement to decide the case as soon as possible, while in Spain they are taking a long time to rule on it because the extensions requested by Real Madrid itself only serve to prolong the Negreira case,” Iturralde said.
“It is strange that they are extending it when there are no sporting consequences.”
Why UEFA is waiting
The programme also examined UEFA’s cautious approach to the case.
Journalist Albert Llimos said UEFA regulations clearly allow a club involved in match-fixing or influencing match results to be declared ineligible for European competition for one season. The rules also allow UEFA to act without waiting for a verdict from the Spanish courts.
However, UEFA has chosen not to take immediate action. Journalist Jordi Marti said the governing body wanted to avoid making a decision before the ordinary courts had ruled.
“Before taking any action, they want to make sure the ordinary courts do not acquit them,” Marti said. “Imagine Barcelona being suspended from competition for a year, with the huge financial losses that would result, and then the ordinary courts acquitting them. In that case, Barcelona’s claim would be so costly that it would cost UEFA a fortune.”
Programme presenter Julio Pulido concluded that UEFA’s latest statement amounted only to an “acknowledgement of receipt” for Real Madrid’s documents. He said UEFA had not yet opened a separate new investigation and was waiting for the Spanish courts to deliver the decisive ruling.
