UEFA has confirmed it received “a substantial amount of documents” from Real Madrid in the UEFA Negreira case, according to ESPN. UEFA says its Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors will assess the material as part of their ongoing review. Barcelona says UEFA has opened no new proceedings.
What UEFA said in the Negreira case
UEFA said on Thursday that it had received the documents “related to the ongoing investigation into FC Barcelona in the matter involving José MarÃa EnrÃquez Negreira”. In addition, it said the inspectors “have also received these latest documents which they will assess as part of their ongoing review”. However, UEFA did not say what the documents contain or what happens next.
Real Madrid’s response to the UEFA Negreira case
Real Madrid published an official statement on the UEFA Negreira case. The club said UEFA had confirmed receipt of its complaint and that the investigation into payments Barcelona made to the former vice president of the referees’ technical committee would continue. It also added that the complaint includes “extensive documentation and evidence”. In addition, Real Madrid said it wants the investigation to proceed “with the utmost urgency” until its conclusion. These are the club’s claims, and they are not findings.
Barcelona’s position on the Negreira case
However, Barcelona rejected the idea that anything new had begun in the UEFA Negreira case. In its statement, which Barca Blaugranes and ESPN reported, the club said: “These proceedings have not been reopened because they have never been closed.” It also said the investigation began in 2023 with the appointment of two investigators. Besides, it said the inspectors have made no new requests to the club and have not forwarded Real Madrid’s complaint to it.
On the UEFA Negreira case, Barcelona added that the UEFA statement does not contain any assessment of the substance of the documents. Finally, the club said its proceedings remain subject to the outcome of the criminal case in Spain.
What happens next
For now, the facts in the UEFA Negreira case are limited. UEFA has the documents and its inspectors will review them. Meanwhile, there is no new finding against any club, and UEFA has announced no timetable. So we will update the story if UEFA says more.
Elsewhere at Real Madrid, read our Real Madrid recovery update on Mbappé, Valverde and Rodrygo.
