Barcelona Referee Scandal: Barcelona is in further danger as UEFA has decided to finally start to probe into the Negreira scandal. Spanish prosecutors opened a case against Barcelona on the basis of some unexplainable transactions made between the club and Enriquez Neigreira, the Vice President of the Spanish Referee Committee. UEFA is ready to investigate further and take action if necessary. Follow Football News Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Since the case surfaced a few weeks back, UEFA has been under pressure from many rival clubs, including Real Madrid to take action against Barcelona regarding the referee scandal. Many suspected that UEFA officials will delay taking action taking this opportunity to drive further wedges between Barcelona and Real Madrid owing to the Super League drama.
However, UEFA has recently released a statement saying, “In accordance with Article 31(4) of the Uefa Disciplinary Regulations, Uefa Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have today been appointed to conduct an investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework by FC Barcelona in connection with the so-called ‘Caso Negreira’.”
According to the mentioned rules under ‘Article 31(4)’, if UEFA demands, then Barcelona officials and directors will have to give face-to-face answers. They will also need to hand over all documentations UEFA asks for inspection purposes and to cooperate with the investigation. Former Barcelona presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu have both already received official corruption charges along with the Spanish Referee Committee Vice President, Enriquez Negreira.
Official: UEFA opens an investigation into the ‘Negreira case’ for Barcelona 🔴 #FCB
“In accordance with Article 31.4. UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors will carry out an investigation into a possible violation of UEFA’s legal framework”. pic.twitter.com/3JxChKvJ0c
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 23, 2023
The payments were made between 2001-2018 and between that time, Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola coached Barcelona. However, he has no acknowledgment of these claims and Barcelona have also staunchly denied any wrongdoings. Additionally, even though there is a trail of more than £6.5 million has been found, no one still has found any connection that the money influenced any match decisions or results.
Even though UEFA opened the investigation, it does not mean that they will take over and decide everything themselves. They have already asked the Spanish prosecution to provide them with all the informations they have found so far. They might wait furthur to see the final result unravelled by the Spanish prosecution. However, if the accusations are to be proved true, Barcelona will receive a 1-year ban from all European competitions.
