Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Barcelona charged with suspected bribery for paying worth more than €7M made to companies linked to the referee José María Enríquez Negreira.
Barcelona is being charged with suspected bribery for allegedly paying more than €7 million to companies linked to former refereeing committee vice president José María Enríquez Negreira, according to ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.
Former Barcelona presidents Josep María Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell and Negreira and his son, Javier Enríquez Romero, are also being charged with suspected bribery, according to ESPN.
A complaint was initially filed against Barcelona, the club’s former presidents and Negreira in Spanish court in March, and an investigation was opened into the alleged payments. The club was previously charged with “alleged corruption in sport, corruption in business, false administration and the falsification of commercial documents,” according to ESPN.
In Spain, a bribery offence only requires proof that a public official or authority has requested money or some compensation to make an influenced decision within the scope of their powers.
Barça paid Negreira’s companies more than €7m between 2001 and 2018 while he was the vice president of the refereeing committee. He had previously been a referee in the Spanish top flight.
Barca president Joan Laporta has said the payments were for “technical reports about referees” and denied the club has ever “bought referees or influence.”
However, prosecutors accused Rosell and Bartomeu of having an agreement with Negreira in which “he would carry out actions aimed at favouring Barca in the decision-making of the referees in the matches played by the club and thus in the results of the competitions.”
Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez addressed the story in a news conference on Thursday.
“You know my opinion,” Xavi said. “I have never had the feeling that the club have benefitted from refereeing. Never.
“I don’t have time to reflect on much more than that, I’m focused on sporting issues. Next week there will be another Negreira story, in 15 days another and then more a month.”
Later on Thursday, Barça announced annual revenue of over €1 billion and after-tax net profit of €304m for the 2022-23 campaign.
“The club can report that the 2022/23 financial year has closed with a net profit of €304m after taxes, a result higher than that approved in last season’s budget,” Barça said in a statement.
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