Whistles and Wallets: Barca Faces Court in Referee Payments Saga
20 January 2026
Key developments in the Negreira case
Spanish journalist Ramon Álvarez de Mon of Marca reveals new developments in the Negreira affair.
Barcelona is tied to payments to Jose Negreira, former vice president of the referees committee, dating back to 2001.
Evidence and testimonies
De Mon said the Civil Guard searched the referees committee headquarters and found documents signed by Negreira detailing referee classifications.
He added that several La Liga referees, current and former, have been summoned to testify from January 2026, in a court probing the Negreira case. Barcelona is reported to have paid more than 7 million euros to Negreira over the years.
The investigations seek to determine whether these payments influenced referee appointments and decisions.
As a side note, tensions between Real Madrid and Barcelona have flared as the investigation progresses, with the two club presidents trading barbs about the probe.
Note that Real Madrid's stance in the case has strained relations between the clubs, with rival presidents Florentino Pérez and Joan Laporta trading barbs over the ongoing investigations.
In related content, a Champions League-style teaser shows Real Madrid vs Monaco, illustrating how big clubs keep their drama in the spotlight.
Whistles meet wallets: if money could ref a game, we’d finally get a fair call — too bad the bill calls the shots. Also, Barça’s accountants must be hoping for extra time, because this case is running longer than most finals.
