Ex-Bayern boss 'not surprised' at Barcelona referee scandal

Stuart Telford

• 23 Feb 2023 09:51 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona have been rocked by accusations of secret payments to former La Liga referee chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreria, and European rivals Bayern Munich's ex-boss is not surprised.

Barca stand accused of paying Enriquez up to €7 million over a 20-year period, under multiple presidents, with the case currently ongoing with the state prosecutor.

Bayern Munich have a long-standing European rivalry with Barca, both clubs regularly finding themselves at the business end of the Champions League if not outright winning it.

READ: Real Madrid REFUSE to condemn Barcelona in referee scandal

Bayern's former president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has slammed Barca in light of the recent controversy.

"I laughed when I read the news, but I'm not surprised," he told Corriere dello Sport.

"Every time we played in Spain I had a strange feeling. These are unacceptable things that don't only concern the domestic competition and even the refereeing issue must be faced with seriousness and respect."

Rummenigge was Bayern CEO when they thrashed Barcelona 8-2 at Camp Nou in August 2020, rendering Slovak referee Damir Skomina's influence irrelevant that night.

READ: Barcelona must make €200m in order to play next season

Barca have denied any wrongdoing over the case, saying they paid referees for technical reports over the period without ever trying to influence their decisions in games.

La Liga taking dim view

La Liga have been less sympathetic, however, saying that many of its clubs show "deep concern about this case, which they consider to be of the utmost seriousness."

Its president Javier Tebas said the case damaged the reputation of Spanish football and that Barca president Joan Laporta "should resign if he can't explain the payments."

Laporta hit back last Thursday. "Tebas has always showed that he is anti-Barcelona," he said. "He tries to destabilise us. But I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of resigning."

In an unrelated case, La Liga have told Barcelona to cut €200 million from their wage bill in time for next season.