Ex-Barcelona Official Lashes Real Madrid Over Negreira Payments Case: A Shameful Chapter in Spanish Football

Background

The ongoing payments saga involving FC Barcelona and the late refereeing official José María Enriquez Negreira continues to spark debate in Spanish football, years after it was revealed, with no final judgments proving refereeing bias.

In the latest chapter, former Barcelona executive and ex-presidential candidate Toni Freixa attacked Real Madrid, accusing them of orchestrating a smear campaign to cover what he calls a historic stain.

Speaking on the popular radio show El Partidazo de COPE, Freixa described Barça's situation as notorious and suggested that the club's great successes were aided by refereeing bias.

Freixa stated: "What happens to Barça is shameful; no one in the world believes their wins were solely due to favoritism from referees."

He directly accused Real Madrid, saying Madrid is forced to hide its own historical shame and favoritism and must engage in smear tactics and pursue legal action.

He added: "What I am sure of is what I will do when this is over, if I ever get the chance, because I represent a part of the club."

The piece notes that the Spanish judiciary continues to examine payments received by Negreira over many years in exchange for alleged refereeing reports, while Barcelona maintains there was no influence on referees or match results.

Freixa's remarks and the legal context

Freixa’s sharp remarks come as the investigation examines a sequence of payments linked to reports about referees, a matter Barcelona consistently rejects as affecting match outcomes.

Madrid and Barça both navigate accusations in a broader drama about reputation, power, and accountability in Spanish football.

Punchline 1: If football were a courtroom, the judge would be the one with the loudest whistle—and apparently the most dramatic wardrobe.

Punchline 2: They say truth travels faster than a ball in the net—yet in this saga, it seems to be playing hide-and-seek with a red card.