From "teasing" to indignation: Barcelona's new reality due to the 'Negreira case'.

The 'Negreira Case' has been generating news week after week since February, gradually complicating the situation of FC Barcelona . The latest chapter that has put the team in even more trouble is the accusation presented by the Spanish Prosecution. According to the text, Barça would have organized payments to the former vice president of the referees, Jose María Enríquez Negreira , with the intention of obtaining favorable treatment in the matches. This accusation is much more categorical than any previous suspicion.

According to their latest statements, the Catalans and Negreira had explained that the payments made (almost 7 million euros during their relationship) were in exchange for arbitration reports. However, if it is proven that that money was used to manipulate matches, we would be facing the biggest scandal in the history of Spanish football.

In this context, it is the players, coaching staff, and other elements who find themselves in an uncomfortable situation. One of them is Xavi Hernández. The coach was captain and leader of the azulgranas for much of the years in which the club maintained its relationship with Jose María Enríquez, and now he has to deal with the scandal as the squad's coach.

As the shadow over 'Barça' has darkened, the strategist has evolved his discourse, going from joking - a few weeks ago about the case - to denouncing the aggressive climate that his team faced with Athletic. This criticism is based on the money thrown by the stands with Laporta's face and the chants of "a segunda, oe, oe."

To remember, the coach, in a statement, frivolized the situation. "The dressing room is facing it in the best possible way and even making some jokes," he assured. However, the atmosphere is no longer the same in the 'Blaugrana' store. In their match at San Mamés, 500 euro banknotes replicas fell and they were called corrupt.

In this regard, Hernández expressed his indignation, surprise, and sorrow at the hostile climate that, in his opinion, has been directed towards his team in the mentioned stadium. "I respect this audience a lot and I am saddened by this atmosphere of hostility because they have always treated us well. Judging prematurely is not good for society," he concluded.

What is the 'Negreira Case'?

According to reports, Barcelona made 33 payments to José María Enríquez Negreira for a total amount of 1,685,142 euros, reported the newspaper 'El Mundo'. The payment documents were delivered to the Tax Agency between 2016 and 2018, just when Negreira was serving as Vice President of the Technical Committee of Referees, according to the same newspaper.

The aforementioned medium also reported that Negreira received 6,659,488 euros from Barça since 2001, which would imply the first stage leading the club by Joan Laporta, who would have increased payments to the then vice president of the CTA. According to this information, both Joan Gaspart and later Laporta, Sandro Rosell, and Josep Maria Bartomeu continued paying.

Receive our newsletter:we will send you the best sports content, as Depor always does.