Real Madrid president shares incredible stat about Barcelona's Negreira case

Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, has reignited the controversy surrounding the ‘Negreira case’ by referencing the disparity in red cards between Los Blancos and Barcelona in that period. 

Perez was speaking to Real Madrid's members at a club assembly where he addressed a number of topics, including the Negreira case. 

He maintained that the payments Barcelona made to the former vice president of RFEF’s technical committee of referees, Jose Maria Enrique Negreira for a 17-year period were abnormal, noting that the payments coincided with the most successful period in Barcelona history. 

"It’s not normal that Barcelona has paid the vice president of referees more than €8m for at least 17 years, whatever the reason," Perez said, per Goal. "I repeat: whatever the reason, it’s not normal.

“Negreira held a key position in the refereeing hierarchy, responsible for referee promotions and demotions. A period that coincides, coincidentally, with Barcelona’s best sporting results in our country.

"Real Madrid had a net balance of two red cards in 2021. And Barcelona, 61 red cards. That’s a difference of no less than 59. On the other hand, during the same period, the balance in Europe is almost identical: +12 for Barca and +13 for Madrid.

"Bayern and Dortmund have the same balance, and so do the major leagues. The red card balance during the Negreira period at Barcelona was +49 and at Real Madrid, -1. Draw your own conclusions."

The Negreira case is an ongoing judicial probe into millions of euros Barcelona paid to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, the long-time vice-chair of Spain’s referees’ committee.

The payments were made between 2001 and 2018, with recent Guardia Civil material putting the total at about €8.3–8.4m.  Prosecutors say the pattern of large, regular payments and the lack of substantive “technical” deliverables raise suspicions of corruption and a threat to sporting integrity.

 A Spanish judge has advanced the case to the point where the club as an institution and several former presidents and directors have been summoned to testify and face formal accusations. Barcelona has consistently denied any wrongdoing, insisting the sums were for legitimate consultancy and refereeing reports and that there is no evidence they paid referees or sought to influence match officials.  

Negreira himself has also rejected any allegation that he bribed or improperly steered officials for Barca, though some key documentary records remain contested or missing and the probe is still collecting testimony and contracts.