sport news Barcelona directors claim a top refereeing boss was paid in 'self-defence' to ... trends now
24 shares
View
comments
Barcelona directors have claimed a top refereeing boss in Spain was paid by the club for almost two decades as an act of ‘self defence’, according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
The club was charged with corruption over payments made to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the then vice-president of the Spanish referees’ committee, last Friday.
The accusation stated that Negreira ‘in exchange for money’ carried out actions that would ‘lead to Barcelona being favoured in the decision making of the referees’.
El Mundo has spoken to former directors of the club and been told by them that Barcelona was protecting itself against a perceived bias against it.
The version of events matches the one given by Negreira when he was originally investigated by Spain’s Inland Revenue. He said that Barcelona hired him to guarantee ‘neutral’ refereeing.
Barcelona have been charged with corruption over payments to a former referees' official
Current Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted the club has never bought referees
Former Barcelona coaches Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde are set to be interviewed
El Mundo says it has also been told confidentially by the former Barcelona directors that ties were not cut with Negreira because he threatened to take revenge on the club by revealing the relationship.
