The Negreira case has entered its final investigative phases before the Spanish judiciary, though a definitive court ruling is not expected before mid-2027, with potential delays remaining likely due to complex legal procedures.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, the ongoing judicial investigation is currently awaiting testimonies from former Barcelona B coach Gerard López and long-serving match delegate Antonio Alonso, both scheduled to appear before the magistrate on November 13.
Once the investigative phase officially closes, the involved parties will submit formal prosecution and defense briefs before proceeding to trial, making mid-2027 an estimated milestone rather than a binding final date.
The case centers on payments totaling approximately €8.4 million made by Barcelona between 2001 and 2018 to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, former Vice President of the Technical Committee of Referees, for services the club maintains were technical scouting reports on referees.
These judicial developments coincide with UEFA confirming receipt of a substantial volume of documentation submitted by Real Madrid, which is currently being evaluated as part of the disciplinary investigation open since 2023.
Real Madrid have called for a swift conclusion to the UEFA inquiry and the implementation of appropriate sanctions, asserting that the submitted documents address facts that undermine competition integrity and trust in the refereeing system.
Barcelona responded by clarifying that UEFA has not opened a new file, as the original 2023 investigation was never formally closed. The Catalan club further emphasized that it has received no recent requests or copies of Real Madrid’s submission, while maintaining its readiness to cooperate with European football’s governing body if requested.
The matter remains split across two distinct tracks: a criminal proceeding before Spanish courts and a disciplinary inquiry under UEFA’s jurisdiction, with no final judicial ruling or sporting sanction issued against Barcelona to date.
