UEFA says it has received no relevant information from the Spanish government, High Council for Sports, Spanish Football Federation or LaLiga during the 44 months since the Negreira case emerged.
The European governing body said the delay in reaching a decision over the alleged sports corruption case could not be blamed on UEFA. It opened a disciplinary investigation after the allegations became public, with president Aleksander Ceferin describing them at the time as “the most serious corruption case ever”.
UEFA sources told Spanish newspaper El Debate: “The delay in issuing a ruling on this alleged sports corruption case cannot be blamed on UEFA.”
They said FIFA had also waited for information from the Spanish Football Federation and LaLiga but had received no response. The lack of action by Spanish authorities and football bodies had complicated the disciplinary process, although UEFA said the case had not disappeared from its attention.
Barcelona is alleged to have paid 8.4 million euros to the former vice-president of the Spanish Technical Committee of Referees in return for favourable refereeing decisions. British media are pursuing that aspect of the case, which has become an international issue. Discussions about alleged corruption involving Manchester City, Barcelona and Turkey have already begun in Brazil and other countries across the Americas.
UEFA sources described the case as “a very clear, very straightforward case of corruption”, adding that the methods were neither concealed nor carried out through intermediaries.
The source also linked the case to wider reform efforts involving Turkey’s refereeing system and England’s response to allegations concerning Manchester City. European media have argued that if England can punish a powerful club, UEFA should act against Barcelona. Manchester City has also been described in this context as a major contributor to rising transfer fees worldwide.
Spanish authorities urged to report findings
UEFA rules require a national association involved in disciplinary proceedings over alleged sports corruption to provide monthly updates on its investigation.
“Over the past three years, we have not received a single report from Spain, neither from the Football Federation nor from any other party,” UEFA sources said.
The Spanish Football Federation, its Technical Committee of Referees, LaLiga and the Spanish government could have investigated the allegations, but no such action was taken during the 44 months. Neither Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales nor LaLiga president Javier Tebas initiated an investigation.
Tebas has argued that the case is beyond the statute of limitations, although the source says that would apply only under Spanish Sports Law, not ordinary judicial proceedings and not at UEFA or FIFA level.
UEFA is aware that Spanish authorities referred the matter to the courts. The case has passed through four judges, with some recusing themselves or taking leave, allegedly because of political pressure. UEFA insists its decisions are independent and will not be influenced by rulings from Spain’s courts.
The disciplinary investigation has continued for more than three years. UEFA says only Real Madrid, which it regards as the main victim, has lodged a complaint. Its Ethics Committee will make the final decision.
Real Madrid has submitted a 50,000-page report covering refereeing decisions from the end of Negreira’s involvement in 2018 to the present. The club claims referees who worked with Negreira and were promoted during his tenure continue to disadvantage it; 20 officials from that period remain on the Technical Committee of Referees.
UEFA has questioned why LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation have not supported complaints, and why Atletico Madrid and other Spanish clubs have not acted. It also noted that Rubiales avoids naming Barcelona or Negreira. When Florentino Perez urged him to investigate, Rubiales reportedly replied: “Forget Negreira.”
UEFA’s Ethics Committee, however, has not forgotten the case.
