FC Barcelona is once again at the center of controversy. The Spanish justice system has officially charged the club as a legal entity for a continuous corporate corruption offense in the form of fraud in the ongoing Negreira Case. The judicial decision marks a turning point in an investigation that has shaken the foundations of Spanish football, as it seeks to clarify the payments made by Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA).

A Scandal That Keeps Growing

The judge of Barcelona’s Court of Instruction No. 1 has made public the resolution confirming the charges against the Catalan club. According to the investigation, Barça allegedly paid around €7.2 million over nearly two decades to companies linked to Negreira and his inner circle.

The main question the court aims to answer is the real purpose of these payments, officially described as “refereeing advisory services” between 2001 and 2014. Investigators suspect that behind these contracts may have been an attempt to influence refereeing decisions in favor of the club.

Laporta and Other Key Figures to Testify

The case now enters a decisive stage. The court has summoned Joan Laporta, current president of FC Barcelona, to testify on November 25 to explain payments made during his first term (2003–2010). Former coaches Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde will also be called to determine whether Negreira’s reports had any impact on the team’s tactical decisions.

Additionally, former president Joan Gaspart will appear in early February to clarify financial movements made between 2000 and 2003. Before that, vice president Elena Fort is scheduled to testify on January 27 on behalf of the current board.

The Court Demands Key Documents

The court has ordered Barcelona to deliver, within 20 days, the original contracts signed with Dasnil 95 SL and Nilsad SCP, the two companies used to channel payments to Negreira. These documents are considered essential to justify the alleged services rendered.

The club had already been asked to present these contracts back in 2021, but at that time claimed that no records of such agreements existed in its internal archives.

A Major Blow to the Club’s Reputation

This formal accusation represents a serious hit to Barcelona’s image. Despite repeatedly asserting its innocence and denying any attempt to seek favorable refereeing decisions, the judicial process moves forward — and the upcoming testimonies could bring new revelations that further shake the club’s recent history.

For now, the Negreira Case remains an open wound that continues to cast a long shadow over Spanish football.