Hours after playing the first match against Manchester United with Europa Leaguea news echoed through its corridors Barcelona. The club is involved in an investigation by the Catalan Prosecutor’s Office “for corruption”. But how committed is the institution in this case whose main target is DASNIL 95 SL, a company Jose Maria Enriquez Negreiraformer referee and important member of the Technical Committee of Referees?
Sports news presents all the details about the complaint, Barcelona’s response and the potential sanction the club could receive under Xavi Hernandez.
How is the investigation regarding Barcelona and referees?
The report Cadena Ser, on the morning of Wednesday February 15, published an article entitled “The Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the company of a former vice president of referees who received payments from Barca for advice while in the service”, which quickly caught the attention of the culé club. In it the research is detailed, which is addressed to the aforementioned DASNIL 95 SL for the €1.4m taxation paid by Barcelona from 2016 to 2018. In this case, the club is a participant but not a defendant. At least for now.
What service did you provide? Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira in Barcelona? As he himself explained, his job consisted of “advise orally” in the institution. This explained to the players how they should behave in front of each referee. What they might do/say depending on who was in charge.
This would not raise any suspicion if, at the time the payments were made, Enríquez Negreira was not vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Did you “illegally” help the Catalans? The former authority assured that none of this happened.
From Barcelona, which was then chaired by Josep Maria Bartomeu, they assure that this reporting policy was already in place since at least 2003. And it stopped due to “cost cutting”.
Chairman @JoanLaportaFCBon the information broadcast today on Ser Catalunya’s program ‘Què t’hi jugues’ pic.twitter.com/8G7mVyYrle
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) February 15, 2023
The Barcelona statement
The club did not hesitate to quickly issue an official statement defending themselves. Without denying that it received the advice, the club sees this investigation as a threat. “FC Barcelona regrets that this information appears at exactly the best sporting moment of this season.” they wrote.
The Catalans clarified that “the services of an external technical consultant had previously been engaged, who provided, in video format, technical reports referring to lower-class players in Spain for the club’s technical secretariat.” They added: “The relationship with the external provider itself has been extended with technical reports relating to professional refereeing in order to supplement the information required by the first team and affiliate coaching staff, a common practice in professional football clubs.”
Barcelona statement regarding the information issued today on Ser Catalunya’s “Què t’hi jugues” program
👉 https://t.co/LJOzi0AsNB pic.twitter.com/UThBWf01mi
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) February 15, 2023
The statement of the Technical Committee of Referees
“The CTA wants to make it clear that Mr. Enríquez Negreira is not part of any federal structure since the change of government that took place after the 2018 elections.” expressed the organization. And he continued: “The CTA makes itself available to the Judiciary to offer its maximum cooperation in any kind of information that this Commission may provide”.
While they reported that “No arbitrator or member of the organs of the CTA may perform duties that are likely to come into conflict of interest.”
Which sanction could suit Barcelona?
For Barcelona to be sanctioned, the club would have to be investigated first, when the focus is currently on Enriquez Negreira’s company. Should this happen and he is found guilty of receiving austerity assistance or bribery, the Catalans could face harsh penalties.
Juventus, embroiled in a referee bribery scandal, were relegated in 2006. In addition, the titles won in the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons were removed.
