This Wednesday, February 15, several Spanish media report that Barça is under investigation for “hidden” payments to the company of a former Spanish referee for three seasons.
FC Barcelona in turmoil. Information from ace and some Padlock Ser indicates that an investigation is opened into payments to a company owned by José María Enríquez Negreira, a former referee, for three seasons between 2016 and 2018. The information was discovered following a tax audit and a taxation of 1.4 million euros to DASNIL.
Aware of the case, the Spanish club published a press release on Wednesday February 15. The club say they have used the services of an external technical consultant for “refereeing-related reports” and say it is “standard practice”. According to the information disclosed, the sum is divided into three payments:
- in 2016: €532,768.02
- in 2017: €541,752
- in 2018: €318,200
Josep Maria Bartomeu indicates that the practice was active when he arrived and dates back to 2003. Sandro Rosell, Bartomeu’s predecessor confirmed the information while Joan Laporta declined to comment. According to information from Cadena Ser, Enríquez Negreira’s job was to verbally advise the Barca club. Javier, his son and director of the company, confirmed that he charged for oral advice and maintains that he gave specific reports to club officials. They both testified in court, like former Barça executives, who assured that the invoices corresponded to “argued reports”. Before the tax agency, the former referee insisted that “everything was neutral”…