According to Spanish newspaper El Debate, UEFA has not received any relevant information from the Spanish government, the Higher Sports Council, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), or La Liga since the Negreira case emerged 44 months ago. UEFA emphasizes that delays in the case decision cannot be attributed to them.

After the case came to light, UEFA, led by Aleksander Čeferin, launched a disciplinary investigation. Čeferin stated at the time, "This is the most serious case of corruption we have ever seen." However, no investigation has been conducted by the Spanish government, the Higher Sports Council, the Spanish Football Federation, or La Liga, nor have any findings been submitted to UEFA. No party has taken action.

UEFA sources stated, "The delay in reaching a decision on this alleged sports corruption case cannot be blamed on UEFA." Given the severity of the case, Spanish domestic authorities, from the government to football regulatory bodies, should have been the first to act at every level. FIFA has also been waiting for information from the Spanish Football Federation and La Liga but has received only silence. This collective silence has created a significant obstacle to the disciplinary process, seemingly designed to allow the case to gradually fade from public discourse, but this approach has not succeeded.

Anti-corruption drives in Turkey targeting a corrupt refereeing system, combined with England's actions against Manchester City's corruption issues, have created momentum for reform in football, with attention now turning directly to Spain and Barcelona. European media's argument is clear: if England can impose heavy sanctions on the powerful Manchester City, controlled by Emirati capital, then UEFA must take action against Barcelona. In this argument, Manchester City is viewed as a primary driver of unacceptably inflated prices in the global football transfer market.

A source from UEFA headquarters in Nyon stated, "This is a very clear case of corruption, very straightforward; the methods were not hidden, and no intermediaries were used."

Barcelona "paid 8.4 million euros to the vice president of Spain's Refereeing Technical Committee" in recent years to "gain clear advantages." English media will pursue this angle. The "Barcelona case" has become an international topic and will attract global attention alongside the Manchester City case. In Brazil and many other countries in the Americas, discussions are already underway about "sports corruption in European football involving Manchester City, Barcelona, and Turkey."

Spanish Football Federation Must Submit Information to UEFA

UEFA's initiation of a "disciplinary process" for "alleged sports corruption" means the football associations involved must report monthly on their findings and investigative efforts.

A UEFA source stated, "Over these three years, we have not received a single report from Spain, neither from the Federation nor from any other party."

La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation's Refereeing Technical Committee, and indeed the Spanish government could have launched investigations, but no action has been taken in these 44 months. Neither Luis Rubiales, President of the Spanish Football Federation, nor Javier Tebas, President of La Liga, has taken action. Tebas, for his own interests, has merely emphasized that "the Barcelona case has passed the statute of limitations." This statement may apply under Spanish sports law, but the case has not passed the statute of limitations under ordinary judicial procedures, let alone at UEFA and FIFA level.

UEFA understands why the Higher Sports Council, the Spanish Football Federation, and La Liga have not submitted information regarding the Negreira case or conducted investigations in Spain. UEFA is well aware of this case and what has transpired over these 44 months. It also knows that the Spanish government, the Football Federation, and La Liga have handed everything over to Spain's judicial system. Over these 44 months, the case has been handled by four different judges, who have taken leave or withdrawn from the case under political pressure.

A UEFA source stated, "UEFA's decision will now be completely independent and will remain so in the future." Therefore, UEFA will handle this case with greater care, and decisions from any national court, including Spain's, will not influence UEFA's decision.

Since launching its disciplinary investigation more than three years ago, UEFA has carefully studied and closely monitored the progress of the "Barcelona case." UEFA is not surprised, but emphasizes that only Real Madrid, whom they regard as the primary victim of this case, has filed a complaint.

A UEFA source stated, "In our view, this alleged sports corruption case is very clear, but ultimately it will be the Ethics Committee that makes the decision."

UEFA has noted that only Real Madrid has filed a complaint, without support from the Spanish Football Federation and La Liga, the two bodies that should have taken action. The source stated, "The serious corruption allegedly committed by Barcelona has harmed the interests of all other teams."

The stance of the Spanish Football Federation and La Liga, defending the accused club rather than the other teams considered victims, has puzzled Nyon. A UEFA source stated, "This is truly shocking to us." For UEFA, this is a contradictory phenomenon. Equally perplexing to them is that Atlético Madrid and many other Spanish clubs, whose interests should also have been harmed by the "Barcelona case," have remained silent and filed no complaints.

Rubiales Has Never Discussed This Case

UEFA headquarters is fully aware of all aspects of this case. In recent months, they have studied a 50,000-page report submitted by Real Madrid, detailing refereeing decisions against Real Madrid in recent years, with material extending to the present. Real Madrid has explicitly stated and provided UEFA with various refereeing materials from Negreira's retirement in 2018 to now. Real Madrid's position is that referees who worked with Negreira and were promoted during his tenure occasionally still make decisions that harm Real Madrid's interests. Currently, 20 individuals from the Negreira era remain on the Refereeing Technical Committee.

UEFA is aware of every detail of the Negreira case and has not distanced itself from the process; quite the opposite. The official statements now issued regarding the "Barcelona case" and Real Madrid's detailed refereeing report reflect the importance of this controversy. UEFA does not issue statements unless there is something significant to communicate. Several months ago, UEFA formally announced Real Madrid's return to the UEFA system, and now has issued a statement indicating that they will examine the Barcelona and Negreira cases and have obtained all materials submitted by Real Madrid.

UEFA understands the actions, negligence, and circumstances of all parties in this case, and one phenomenon has captured their attention. A UEFA source stated, "The President of the Spanish Football Federation has never mentioned Barcelona or Negreira; he is unwilling to refer to anything related to this matter."

This is consistent with Rubiales' refusal to investigate the scandal, as he has avoided the core issue. Florentino Pérez asked Rubiales to take action, to which Rubiales responded, "Forget Negreira." UEFA's Ethics Committee has not forgotten this case and will render a decision.

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