Barcelona Legal Troubles: No Relegation Risk

Barcelona’s Negreira Scandal: La Liga President Javier Tebas Clarifies Punishment

Barcelona’s ongoing Negreira Case has been a major talking point in Spanish football, raising concerns about potential repercussions for the Catalan giants. However, La Liga president Javier Tebas has reassured fans that Barcelona will not face sporting sanctions such as relegation, even if found guilty of wrongdoing.

The Allegations: What Is the Negreira Case?

In 2023, Barcelona was charged with sporting corruption after it emerged that the club allegedly made payments of approximately €7 million over several years to a company linked to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spain’s Refereeing Committee. The payments were reportedly made in exchange for detailed reports and video analysis on referees officiating their matches.

The investigation is ongoing, and while La Liga insists the case should go to court, no resolution has been reached yet.

Tebas' Verdict: No Relegation, Only Financial Penalties

Despite the severity of the accusations, Javier Tebas has made it clear that Barcelona will not face administrative relegation. Instead, the club could be subjected to financial fines if found guilty.

> “I do not make the sporting laws; I have to comply with what is established. In this case, the statute of limitations for crimes is three years, and we cannot invent a different statute of limitations. So, no, there would not be an administrative relegation for this reason,” said Tebas in an interview with The Objective.

He further explained that sanctions could range from financial fines to the dissolution of an entity or commercial company, depending on the outcome of the trial.

Was There Referee Bribery?

One of the biggest concerns surrounding this case is whether Barcelona actively bribed referees to influence match outcomes. However, Tebas emphasized that there is no evidence of direct referee bribery.

> “What needs to be clarified is that, in this investigation, the purchase of referees has not been proven. Data and evidence have been requested by all parties, but there is no evidence that a referee has been bought. What is clear is the payment to Negreira, and that is already sporting corruption. But when you read or hear certain things, it seems like they are exaggerated.

While the payments to Negreira’s company raise ethical and legal concerns, there is no proof that individual referees were influenced.

What’s Next for Barcelona?

The legal proceedings will determine whether Barcelona faces financial sanctions.

La Liga supports a court trial rather than sporting punishment.

If found guilty, the club may have to pay hefty fines but will not be relegated.

Barcelona fans can breathe a sigh of relief for now, knowing that their club’s La Liga status remains secure. However, the financial implications of the case could still be significant.

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