The new ‘Barcagate’: accusation of arbitration corruption and sanction that will not come because more than three years have passed

The novelty has shaken Spanish football and the world: based on an investigation by the Treasury, there would be elements to ensure that Barcelona has awarded 1.4 million euros to a company whose owner was the vice president of the Technical Arbitration Committee (CTA), for which a triangulation of money is suspected with the aim of being favored by the arbitrations during 2016 and 2018.

“There can be no sporting disciplinary sanctions. The facts that the Judiciary is also investigating took place in 2018 and even earlier, but the statute of limitations for this type of sanction is three years and five years from 2018 to 2023”. explained the president of LaLiga of Spain, Javier Tebas.

In this sense, Thebes referred to the investigation and its scope. “Criminal jurisdiction is something else. A court investigates and determines whether there could be a possible crime of corruption between private individuals. If a trial opens, we will have to appear as a civil party. And if there is no trial, all this is archived “, he summed up. the strongman of the First Division of Spanish football.

For its part, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has asked Barcelona for a release or clarification of information after learning of information shaking Spanish football and It was not shown on the same route as Thebes“As soon as sufficient information is available (RFEF) will take the corresponding measures within the framework of the legality that must prevail in all these situations,” the body said in a statement.

The investigation allegedly started after the Spanish Treasury identified irregularities in the taxes made between 2016 and 2018 by the company Dasnil 95, owned by José María Enríquez Negreira, vice president of the CTA between 1994 and 2018.

The first to deny that information was Joseph Maria Bartomeuwho presided over the Catalan club between 2015 and 2020. “It is absolutely false and absurd to think that we have bought any referee, there is nothing to hide. If we had influenced the referees, they would not have disallowed a goal on the last day against Atlético who gave us a championship, it’s absurd to think so. And I could give other examples,” he indicated.

In turn, the president of the CTA, Luis Medina Cantalejo, has assured that he will put “his hand in the fire for the honesty of the referees” and has informed that the body he presides over will appear in court together with the RFEF.

the chronology

“From what we read in the media, it is obvious that these events should never have happened, neither in fact nor in these quantities”, admitted Tebas, after clarifying that there will be no possible sanctions, regardless of the veracity of the grievance.

Negreira, the alleged liaison between Barcelona and the referees, was a referee in the Spanish first division for 13 seasons, between 1977 and 1992, and after his retirement he took over the leadership of the Catalan Arbitration Board, until two years later became right hand Victoria Sánchez Arminio as vice president of the CTA.

Negreira has denied before the prosecution that there was favorable treatment for Barcelona as a result of these payments, although he could not justify his work with documentation, which would consist of giving oral advice on the players’ behavior in front of a referee, among others responsibility.

Bartomeu, supported Negreira’s statements. “The minutes exist, they were delivered to both the first team and Barça B before each match to comment on aspects of the referee who had to play. The coaches and players thanked them,” underlined the former president.

Currently that job belongs to “a professional in the football area” of the club. In this sense, the current president of Barcelona Joan Laporta, who took over the reins of the club in 2021, has signed a statement in which he clarifies the position of the institution.

“On the part of FC Barcelona, ​​any specious and tendentious interpretation that insinuates things that are not, will receive the appropriate response from the club. We reserve all necessary actions to defend the reputation and interests of the institution.” said the communiqué bearing Laporta’s signature.