Real Madrid provokes Barcelona's anger

The Negreira scandal continues to shake Spanish football, with Real Madrid declaring they will pursue the matter relentlessly, demanding the harshest penalties for Barcelona.

The case revolves around payments totaling 7.5 million Euros that Barcelona made to former Deputy Chairman of the Refereeing Committee (CTA) Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018. Barcelona explained these were costs for consulting work and referee analysis reports, but investigators suspect sports fraud. Several former leaders such as Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu testified during recent trials, further spotlighting the case.

Real Madrid is one of the biggest plaintiffs. According to MARCA, Los Blancos' management insists they will not back down and demand FIFA and football authorities enforce strict measures. They believe the Spanish refereeing system harbors a “culture of bias,” with the Negreira case as clear proof. They argue only the toughest sanctions against Barcelona can restore fairness.

Beyond declarations, Real Madrid TV aired a series of videos analyzing the number of cards and controversial decisions they claim favored Barcelona over many years. This move aims to highlight the inequality Real Madrid feels it has endured.

Los Blancos’ outrage also stems from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) revising the ethical code in 2021, shortening the statute of limitations for corruption cases to just five years. This change makes it difficult to directly sanction many of Barcelona's older violations. Real Madrid openly expresses anger, viewing this as a “shield” allowing their rival to escape punishment.

Notably, Real Madrid mainly targets recent Barcelona leadership such as Bartomeu and Rosell, rather than earlier officials involved at the start of the affair. They also criticize former director Alvaro Soler—who later worked in the Sports Ministry—for participating in the statute of limitations change just before the scandal emerged.

The already complex relationship between Real Madrid and Barcelona has become even tenser. Although President Florentino Perez once called for cooperation with Barca on the Super League project, the Negreira case has deepened the divide between the two clubs. Real Madrid is closely monitoring every trial, ready to seek compensation if proven to be indirect victims of irregular payments.

The Negreira case is far from over. While Spain’s judicial system continues its proceedings, Real Madrid maintains a firm stance: Barcelona must receive the severest possible punishment. For Los Blancos, this is not only a legal battle but also a fight to protect the reputation and fairness of Spanish football.

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