Official UEFA Statement After Real Madrid’s Move: An Old File Returns to Haunt Barcelona

A thorny file that has haunted Barcelona for years has flared up again, after European football’s governing body issued a new official statement concerning the Catalan club, a move triggered directly by their great rivals Real Madrid that has brought fresh worry to the Camp Nou.

The statement revealed that Los Blancos have not simply watched from afar. They sent a large volume of documents in recent months, which are now in the hands of the relevant UEFA bodies, amid reports in the Spanish press that Real Madrid expect Barcelona to be punished.

The file in question is the Negreira case. UEFA confirmed in an official statement that it has received from Real Madrid a substantial amount of documents related to the ongoing investigation into FC Barcelona in the matter involving José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

UEFA added that its Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have also received these latest documents and will assess them as part of their ongoing review of the case.

According to reports in the Spanish press, Real Madrid believe Barcelona will be handed some kind of punishment. However, no quick resolution is expected, meaning the case could drag on for some time before a final decision is reached.