Real Madrid release statement on ‘well-founded suspicions’ of Barcelona corruption

Robin Bairner

• 11 Mar 2023 05:21 CST
• 2 min read

Real Madrid have broken their silence regarding the refereeing scandal regarding Clasico rivals Barcelona.

The Catalan side stand accused of corruption, having made payments totalling more than €8 million to former vice-president of Spain’s referee committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

On Friday, a court in Barcelona announced that the club has been indicted over the charges, including “corruption”, “breach of trust” and “false business records”.

"FC Barcelona obtained and maintained a strictly confidential verbal agreement with Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira so that, in his capacity as vice-president of the technical arbitral committee (CTA) and in exchange for money, the latter carries out actions tending to benefit FC Barcelona in decisions by the referees," said the public prosecutor's office.

There could be severe repercussions for the La Liga leaders, with the list of punishments including potential relegation.

Barcelona have denied the charges, while Enriquez Negreira has said that he was being paid in an advisory role to explain to players how best to handle different referees.

Speaking on Tuesday, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said: “Let it be clear Barca have never bought referees and Barca have never had the intention of buying referees, absolutely never.”

Real Madrid on Barcelona referee scandal

Real Madrid have now released a statement, indicating that their board will meet on Sunday to determine what action to take.

The Bernabeu club said:

“Given the seriousness of the accusations made by the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office against the FC Barcelona and two of its presidents due to well-founded suspicions of corruption and their relations with the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Arbitrators, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the president has urgently summoned the Board of Directors tomorrow, Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 12pm, in order to decided on the actions that Real Madrid deems appropriate.”

Real Madrid are in La Liga action on Saturday with a home match against Espanyol, while Barcelona face Athletic Club on Sunday.