The court shuts the door on Real Madrid in the Negreira case

The Negreira case added a new chapter of high judicial tension. Judge Alejandra Gil Lima, head of Barcelona’s Court of Instruction No. 1, rejected Real Madrid’s request to access audits, financial reports, and economic records of FC Barcelona covering the period between 2010 and 2021. The decision represents a direct blow to the white club’s legal strategy within the proceedings.

Real Madrid, acting as a private prosecutor, sought to dig deeper into the origin and destination of the payments made to José María Enríquez Negreira, former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), and his business network. However, according to the judge, expanding the investigation to the club’s general accounting is not justified, as the existence of the payments is already documented through invoices.

According to the judicial ruling, granting access to Barça’s accounts is not necessary to determine whether those payments were intended to influence sporting outcomes, which remains the core focus of the case.

A firm ruling that limits Madrid’s role

The judge was unequivocal in her decision. As stated in the ruling: “There are no grounds to carry out the investigative measures requested by the attorney acting on behalf of Real Madrid CF.” A statement that sharply defines the limits of the club’s involvement in the process.

This position partially aligns with one of the defendants, former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who opposed handing over the documentation on the grounds that Real Madrid lacks procedural standing to access sensitive financial information belonging to Barcelona.

From a legal standpoint, the ruling protects Barça’s financial data and narrows the scope of the case exclusively to the payments linked to Negreira, without extending the analysis to the club’s overall financial management.

Carles Naval, the piece that keeps the case alive

Despite the setback for Madrid, the ruling does not close all avenues. The judge did approve the testimony of Carles Naval, delegate of FC Barcelona’s first team and a key figure within the club’s structure during the years under investigation.

According to the court order, his testimony could be relevant in clarifying where the reports were kept, how they were used, the purpose behind the payments, and the type of services being remunerated. Naval, as noted by the judge, was involved for years in the approval process of those payments, making him a central figure in the progression of the case.

Naval’s testimony, scheduled for April 10, stands out as one of the most decisive moments in the proceedings so far.

Laporta celebrates and raises the political tone

Following the judicial decision, FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta was quick to respond. “I’m glad the judge slammed the door in Madrid’s face,” he said publicly, underscoring the confrontational climate surrounding the case.

Laporta insisted that the proceedings were being used to destabilize Barça and damage its reputation, defending that the club “has never tried to obtain refereeing favoritism.” He also accused Real Madrid of sustaining an interested narrative without solid legal foundations.

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