Real Madrid await outstanding financial documents and a judicial decision regarding Barcelona while the Negreira case investigation continues.
The judicial committee officially concluded its witness hearings as reported by Que T’hi Jugues. A final determination on whether the matter goes to trial hinges on the delivery of specific financial records from Barcelona.
On Friday, former Barcelona B boss Gerard Lopez and ex-delegate Toni Alonso appeared as the final witnesses before investigating magistrate Alejandra Gil. Both defended the usefulness of the refereeing reports prepared by Javier Enriquez, son of former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
“Reports on refereeing tendencies helped, especially in the lower divisions,” said Gerard Lopez, former Barcelona B manager, according to Que T’hi Jugues.
Managers Deny Awareness of Reports Amid Barcelona Claims
Their testimony contrasts with that of former first-team managers such as Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde. Neither of the two coaches acknowledged any familiarity with the documentation or stated they ever utilized them during their tenure at the institution.
The Catalan club consistently maintains that these funds went entirely toward technical consultancy rather than any effort to sway officiating outcomes. Although Real Madrid joined the prosecution in seeking a six-month extension for the inquiry, the magistrate turned down this motion back in September.
However, Los Blancos achieved a partial victory when the Barcelona Provincial Court ordered Barcelona to hand over financial audits and reports spanning from 2010 to 2021. These are the documents still outstanding from the Catalan club before the investigation officially concludes.
Judge Reviews Payments Totaling €8.4 Million over 17 Years
| Milestone / Detail | Status / Figure |
|---|---|
| Total payments under investigation | €8.4 million over 17 years |
| Extension request status | Rejected by Judge Alejandra Gil in September |
| Expected judicial decision | Early 2027 |
| Outstanding documents | Financial audits and reports from 2010 to 2021 |
Upon gathering the paperwork, Judge Gil is anticipated to rule—potentially by the beginning of 2027—on whether to drop the inquiry or elevate the matter to a full trial. The investigation concerns payments reportedly totalling €8.4 million over 17 years to Negreira and related companies.
Given that an adverse ruling against Barcelona would impact them more than any other club, Real Madrid are closely monitoring the developments. Judge Gil has yet to assess the investigation's findings or decide if the case will go to trial in 2027.
