Barcelona face a fresh court outcome in the Negreira affair as the judge makes a decisive move in the high-profile case.
The investigation centres on payments totalling over €7 million made by the club to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spain’s referees committee, between 2001 and 2018.
Barcelona have maintained that these were legitimate consultancy fees for technical and refereeing reports, but prosecutors continue to probe whether the transactions influenced match officials or involved other irregularities like breach of trust or money laundering.
The court has now made a significant decision on the Barcelona Negreira case, with the judge extending the investigation by a further six months beyond its original deadline, as reported by Marca.
This latest prolongation, ordered by magistrate Alejandra Gil of Barcelona’s Court of Instruction No. 1, comes after the club was summoned to provide testimony as an investigated party on April 10, represented by former vice-president Elena Fort.
The extension reflects ongoing efforts to gather statements from key figures, including ex-presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, amid claims that FC Barcelona has not yet fully clarified its position.
For the club, this development prolongs uncertainty at a time when they are focused on domestic and European success under Hansi Flick.
President Joan Laporta has repeatedly dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, insisting no evidence of sporting corruption has emerged despite extensive scrutiny of contracts, invoices, and reports.
No sporting sanctions have been imposed by La Liga, UEFA, or FIFA to date, partly due to the age of the transactions.
Yet, as the investigation drags on, Barcelona face mounting legal costs and reputational strain, with potential financial or administrative consequences still hanging in the balance.
The coming months will test the club’s patience and legal strategy as they seek closure on a matter that refuses to fade.
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