Spanish referees seek justice as investigation into Negreira's payments to Barca gathers pace
3 March - Spanish referees have jointly defended their reputation and profession following the emerging scandal involving Barcelona's alleged payment of £1.4m to a company run by a former referee who at the time acted as one of their main representatives in the Spanish FA.
Barca deny any wrongdoing and claim that the money paid to DASNIL 95, owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, between 2016 and 2018 was for advice. But a Spanish prosecutor is investigating the company after the country's tax authorities got involved.
Several hundred current and former referees and referee assistants attended the first press conference given by the Spanish Football Federation since the scandal broke by Spanish radio station Cadena SER on February 15 .
"We want to make it clear that no one has more to lose than us to ensure justice is served," said referee José Sánchez on behalf of all match officials.
>Negreira was vice-president of the Spanish Football Association's refereeing committee until 2018, but referees active at the time insist they never came under pressure from his share or other officials.
Sanchez said he and his colleagues hoped that "the alleged actions of a person who, in his day, was part of this house will not tarnish our image and the honor of this great body".
>While not confirming the exact figures, Barcelona have acknowledged the payment to Enríquez. The club have engaged an independent company to carry out their own investigation and are expected to provide a more detailed account once it is complete.
But with the plot thickening, former top Spanish referee Xavier Estrada Fernandez has filed a criminal complaint in a Barcelona court against Negreira's company for alleged sports fraud, according to local reports.< /p>
While the board work payments, which included referee reports, are the only ones being investigated by the tax office, it has also been alleged that Barca paid Negreira more $7 million since at least 2001.
According to Catalan TV, Fernandez believes Negreira's role 'had or could have had' an influence on the referees. Further, that there was "a clear profit motive".
La Liga cannot issue sporting sanctions following Negreira's revelations as statutes of limitations in Spain only allow clubs to be punished within three years of any breach.
However, La Liga president Javier Tebas said earlier this week that Barca president Joan Laporta should resign if he is unable to provide a reasonable explanation regarding the payments.< /p>
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1677963767labto1677963767ofdlr1677963767owedi1677963767sni@w1677963767ahsra1677963767w.wer1677963767dna1677963767
3 March - Spanish referees have jointly defended their reputation and profession following the emerging scandal involving Barcelona's alleged payment of £1.4m to a company run by a former referee who at the time acted as one of their main representatives in the Spanish FA.
Barca deny any wrongdoing and claim that the money paid to DASNIL 95, owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, between 2016 and 2018 was for advice. But a Spanish prosecutor is investigating the company after the country's tax authorities got involved.
Several hundred current and former referees and referee assistants attended the first press conference given by the Spanish Football Federation since the scandal broke by Spanish radio station Cadena SER on February 15 .
"We want to make it clear that no one has more to lose than us to ensure justice is served," said referee José Sánchez on behalf of all match officials.
>Negreira was vice-president of the Spanish Football Association's refereeing committee until 2018, but referees active at the time insist they never came under pressure from his share or other officials.
Sanchez said he and his colleagues hoped that "the alleged actions of a person who, in his day, was part of this house will not tarnish our image and the honor of this great body".
>While not confirming the exact figures, Barcelona have acknowledged the payment to Enríquez. The club have engaged an independent company to carry out their own investigation and are expected to provide a more detailed account once it is complete.
But with the plot thickening, former top Spanish referee Xavier Estrada Fernandez has filed a criminal complaint in a Barcelona court against Negreira's company for alleged sports fraud, according to local reports.< /p>
While the board work payments, which included referee reports, are the only ones being investigated by the tax office, it has also been alleged that Barca paid Negreira more $7 million since at least 2001.
According to Catalan TV, Fernandez believes Negreira's role 'had or could have had' an influence on the referees. Further, that there was "a clear profit motive".
La Liga cannot issue sporting sanctions following Negreira's revelations as statutes of limitations in Spain only allow clubs to be punished within three years of any breach.
However, La Liga president Javier Tebas said earlier this week that Barca president Joan Laporta should resign if he is unable to provide a reasonable explanation regarding the payments.< /p>
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1677963767labto1677963767ofdlr1677963767owedi1677963767sni@w1677963767ahsra1677963767w.wer1677963767dna1677963767
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