Former Barcelona presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu insisted on Thursday that payments made to a former refereeing official during their tenures were not corrupt, as they testified in court in connection with the ongoing “Negreira case.”
The case centres on payments of more than €7.3 million ($8.6m) made between 2001 and 2018 to Dasnil 95, a company owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, former vice-president of Spain’s refereeing committee (CTA).
Prosecutors suspect the money may have been used to influence refereeing decisions, while Barcelona maintains the payments were strictly for advisory services.
Bartomeu Claps Back
Bartomeu, who served as president from 2014 to 2020, defended the club’s actions after his court appearance.
“Today it became clear that many of the theories raised in recent years have been quashed,” he told reporters.
“It was clarified that there were advisory services, referee reports, guidance regarding pre- and post-match matters, and that there was a financial trade-off for that advisory work.”
Rosell, his predecessor in office between 2010 and 2014, left without making a public statement.
Spanish media, though, reported that both Rosell and Bartomeu testified that the payments were inherited from earlier administrations, implying the arrangement predated their time in charge.
Wider investigation continues
The probe began in March 2023, after Spain’s tax authorities flagged irregularities in payments made between 2016 and 2018 by Negreira’s company, Dasnil 95.
Alongside Rosell and Bartomeu, other individuals — including Negreira’s son — were also summoned to testify on Thursday.
(with AFP inputs)
