Latest news with #NegreiraCase
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde called as witnesses in Barcelona corruption case
In the background of Spanish football, on the day that it was made public that the board of the Referees Committee had been sacked, rumbles the Negreira case. The corruption probe, in which former CTA Vice-President Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira and Barcelona stand accused of sporting corruption, is moving closer to a trial. The case, which dominated headlines when it first emerged in 2022, has seen the authorities investigate a series of payments made to various companies in which Negreira was involved over a period of 17 years between 2001 and 2018, which total between €7m and €8m. Barcelona have denied any wrongdoing, claiming that Negreira was hired on a consultancy basis. Former Barcelona managers called as witnesses As reported by EFE and quoted by MD, former Barcelona managers Ernesto Valverde and Luis Enrique will called to the stand by the prosecution to testify in the trial. The current Athletic Club coach was in charge between 2017 and 2020, while the Paris Saint-Germain manager was in charge of the Blaugrana for the three seasons before. The prosecution are keen to get testimony on the effectiveness of the refereeing reports that Barcelona received from Negreira. Image via EFE Barcelona President Joan Laporta will also testify Current President Joan Laporta will also be called to the stand. Originally Laporta was under investigation as part of the corruption probe, but has been dropped from the case as his involvement was outwith the statute of limitations. However the prosecution consider that hsi testimony on the motive behind contracting Negreira will be significant to their case. Uncertainty over trial It is still not clear when the case will be brought to trial. The Courts in Barcelona recently granted an extension to the investigation, as they seek statements from some of those involved. That includes former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, who are due to speak with the authorities in September.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Watch – Barcelona president's response over Florentino Perez's referee complaints to RFEF chief
Barcelona president Joan Laporta offered a sarcastic response when questioned about recent remarks made by Rafael Louzan, the newly appointed president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Louzan's comments touched on the pressures reportedly placed on referees by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, drawing widespread attention. However, when approached by the media, Laporta simply said, 'I didn't understand any of the questions.' Louzan recently discussed his ongoing interactions with Perez, who has consistently voiced concerns about refereeing decisions in Spanish football. Perez's frustrations over what he perceives as unfair treatment of his club have been a recurring topic in their conversations. The Real Madrid president has not hesitated to remind Louzan about these issues, often bringing up specific grievances. 🔵🔴 Laporta tira de ironía a las preguntas sobre Louzán: 'No he entendido ninguna pregunta' — MARCA (@marca) January 29, 2025 One area that continues to fuel tension is the controversial Negreira Case, which centres around alleged payments from Barcelona to a former referee official. Louzan also revealed that Perez used this case as a key reference point in his discussions, arguing that it reflects broader problems within Spanish football's refereeing structure. Louzan confirmed that Perez frequently raises the issue, indicating that the Real Madrid president remains steadfast in his belief that the system has not treated his club fairly. Laporta, however, seemed dismissive of the entire topic, brushing off questions about Louzan's comments with a sarcastic remark. His response highlighted a stark contrast between Barcelona's and Real Madrid's perspectives on the matter. While Perez continues to push for reforms and accountability, Laporta appears less inclined to engage in public debates over refereeing controversies. The ongoing friction between these two footballing giants over refereeing decisions adds another layer to the intense rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid. As discussions about fairness and transparency in Spanish football persist, it remains to be seen whether these high-profile exchanges will lead to any meaningful changes or simply deepen existing divisions.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
RFEF President reveals Florentino Perez's complaints about refereeing in Spain – ‘We've lost many titles because of them'
Rafael Louzan, the newly appointed president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), is once again in the spotlight. This time, it is due to an interview he gave on the El Cafelito podcast, following the announcement of coach Luis de la Fuente's contract renewal. Louzan spoke openly about his relationship with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, as well as the ongoing issue of refereeing in Spanish football. Louzan explained that his relationship with Perez has been good for years, even before he assumed his current position at the Federation. However, he acknowledged that the Real Madrid president has repeatedly expressed his frustrations with the refereeing system. ☕️ CAFELITO CON LOUZÁN, PRESIDENTE de la RFEF ☕️🔝 @jpedrerol y una entrevista que no dejará indiferente a nadie…¡Este JUEVES a las 15:30h en Youtube, Facebook, iVoox y Spotify! — El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) January 28, 2025 According to Louzan, Perez feels that his club has been harmed by referee decisions, a sentiment that has become widely known. 'My relationship with Florentino Perez, which was before this, is good,' he said as quoted by Mundo Deportivo. The thing is that Florentino states emphatically that he feels harmed in the field of refereeing and so on. This is already vox populi.' Despite these tensions, Louzan emphasized the need for both men to start fresh and work together. 'I tell him (Florentino), let's see, I've just arrived. We'll have to reset the counter and we'll try to get along somehow.' When asked whether Perez still brings up the issue of referees, Louzan confirmed that the Real Madrid president remains persistent on the matter. Perez, according to Louzan, often reminds him about the topic, particularly in relation to the controversial Negreira Case, which has affected Barcelona. Louzan noted that he has told Perez that the matter is in the hands of the courts and that there is little he can do about it. 'I tell him that it is in the hands of justice. What am I going to decide?' In a lighter moment, Louzan even revealed that Perez once jokingly threatened to bring in English referees to handle matches involving Real Madrid. 'He told me one day that he was going to bring in English referees to whistle.' Louzan also recalled a conversation with Perez in Saudi Arabia a year ago, where the Real Madrid president expressed concerns over the refereeing issues that he believes have cost the club valuable titles. 'In Saudi Arabia a year ago he took me aside and said: 'You have to resolve this issue of the referees that is harming us and we have lost many titles because of the referees',' he said. Louzan's attempts to address the issue have been met with a constant reminder from Perez about how much it has affected the club's fortunes. Finally, when Pedrerol asked whether it would be possible to get La Liga president Javier Tebas and Perez to sit down together, Louzan responded with a laugh, acknowledging that it would be a difficult task. 'Why not? But I can see that it's going to be very complicated. There are difficult challenges, but this one is even more so,' he noted.
