Barcelona were charged with suspected bribery bills use in abundance of $7.3 million to corporations connected with ex-vice president of refereeing Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, in keeping with EFE studies. Former membership presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell are accused of the similar fees in addition to Negreira and his son Javier Enriquez Romero.
Barca have prior to now been charged with alleged carrying and trade corruption in addition to fraudelant management and falsified industrial paperwork. Additionally in line with EFE, police searched the refereeing head administrative center on the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in Madrid on Thursday for paperwork connected with the case.
Prosecutors lodged a grievance in opposition to Barca, the previous presidents and the Negreiras in Spanish court docket again in March which used to be authorized and opened the investigation. The bribery fees may just now see the method accelerate because the bills had been first visible again in February.
Barca paid Negreira’s corporations greater than $7.3 million over a seven-year length from 2001-2018 when he used to be vp having been a former referee himself. Flow Barca supremo Joan Laporta has claimed that the bills had been for “technical reports regarding referees” and has denied claims that the Catalan membership “bought referees or influence.”
Prosecutors accuse Rosell and Bartomeu of agreeing with Negreira to “carry out actions aimed at favoring Barca in the decision-making of the referees in the matches played by the club and thus in the results of the competitions.” Bribery in Spain most effective calls for evidence {that a} people reliable or determine of authority has asked cash or repayment in go back for an influenced choices with their remit.
“You know my opinion,” stated Barca head teacher Xavi in press convention on Thursday. “I have never had the feeling that the club have benefitted from refereeing. Never. I do not have time to reflect on much more than that, I am focused on sporting issues. Next week there will be another Negreira story, in 15 days another and then more a month.”
Rosell led Barca from 2010-14 ahead of Bartomeu’s arrival month Laporta arrived in 2021 to exchange Bartomeu who resigned in 2020.
