Biggest scandal in history — Real Madrid president fires fresh shot at Barcelona

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez fired fresh shots at Barcelona regarding the Negreira case. He called the ongoing court case the biggest scandal in football history and questioned the silence of other relevant institutions. 

Less than a month ago, Perez reignited the controversy surrounding the 'Negreira case' at Real Madrid's general assembly. Underscoring the seriousness with which Los Blancos are taking the matter, he brought it up again recently, during the club's annual Christmas address.  

"Christmas is a time that invites us to reflect," Perez said, per Goal. "This club has built its history and its legend. We are the club with the highest income in the world according to Deloitte and the most valuable according to Forbes. This has allowed us to live one of our most successful periods in these 15 years, both in football and basketball.

"But Christmas is also a time to reflect. And Madrid's biggest concern is the refereeing situation. As you well know, the extremely serious situation that occurred with the 'Negreira case' for almost two decades deserves justice.

"It is completely incomprehensible that the institutions have left Madrid alone in this fight. How is it possible that the president of the referees asks us to forget it? How are we going to forget the biggest scandal in the history of football? How can the RFEF and La Liga behave like this? They have a duty to ensure integrity.”

As Pulse Sports reported, 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. Lately, the current president, Joan Laporta, and two former coaches, Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde, testified in court. 

 Barcelona have 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.