Barca deny trying to influence referees through €1.4m deal with ex-match official
February 20 - Barcelona paid nearly €1.4 million to a company owned by a former Catalan referee for "technical advice", according to Spanish media citing a tax investigation.
The money was allegedly paid to DASNIL 95, owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, between 2016 and 2018.
Reports indicate that Spanish prosecutors have investigated the case following a tax audit at Dasnil 95, and that Negreira and his son have already testified before the prosecutor's office.
Between 1994 and 2018 Negreira was vice-president of the arbitration committee of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). It is claimed that advice was given to Barça players on how they should behave during matches depending on who was refereeing.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper ABC on Friday, former Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu said he terminated the contract with the company to cut costs and that the club never tried to seek the favors of the referees.
"That person had no power over the referees," Bartomeu said.
Current chairman Joan Laporta said it was "no coincidence" that the matter came to light "while things are going well for the team". Barça are top of the Spanish league and are looking for their first league title since 2019.
The Spanish football federation and its arbitration committee have said Negreira has had no role in the organization since it changed administration in 2018.
Luis Medina, who refereed from 1998 to 2009 and is now head of the committee that assigns referees to Spanish matches, says he has never received pressure of any kind from Negreira or anyone else to influence a result or favor a team, describing Negreira as "a man in the shadows".
FC Barcelona responded with a statement in which they explained that in the past they had contracted "the services of an external technical consultant, who provided, in video format, technical reports on young players in Spain for the club's technical staff" and that now "this type of outsourced service is provided by a professional assigned to the football department".
The club have warned that they will take legal action 'against anyone who tarnishes the club's image with possible insinuations' which are 'contrary to the reputation' of Barcelona.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1677014044labto1677014044ofdlr1677014044owedi1677014044sni@w1677014044ahsra1677014044w.wer1677014044dna1677014044
February 20 - Barcelona paid nearly €1.4 million to a company owned by a former Catalan referee for "technical advice", according to Spanish media citing a tax investigation.
The money was allegedly paid to DASNIL 95, owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, between 2016 and 2018.
Reports indicate that Spanish prosecutors have investigated the case following a tax audit at Dasnil 95, and that Negreira and his son have already testified before the prosecutor's office.
Between 1994 and 2018 Negreira was vice-president of the arbitration committee of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). It is claimed that advice was given to Barça players on how they should behave during matches depending on who was refereeing.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper ABC on Friday, former Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu said he terminated the contract with the company to cut costs and that the club never tried to seek the favors of the referees.
"That person had no power over the referees," Bartomeu said.
Current chairman Joan Laporta said it was "no coincidence" that the matter came to light "while things are going well for the team". Barça are top of the Spanish league and are looking for their first league title since 2019.
The Spanish football federation and its arbitration committee have said Negreira has had no role in the organization since it changed administration in 2018.
Luis Medina, who refereed from 1998 to 2009 and is now head of the committee that assigns referees to Spanish matches, says he has never received pressure of any kind from Negreira or anyone else to influence a result or favor a team, describing Negreira as "a man in the shadows".
FC Barcelona responded with a statement in which they explained that in the past they had contracted "the services of an external technical consultant, who provided, in video format, technical reports on young players in Spain for the club's technical staff" and that now "this type of outsourced service is provided by a professional assigned to the football department".
The club have warned that they will take legal action 'against anyone who tarnishes the club's image with possible insinuations' which are 'contrary to the reputation' of Barcelona.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1677014044labto1677014044ofdlr1677014044owedi1677014044sni@w1677014044ahsra1677014044w.wer1677014044dna1677014044
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