Former Barcelona President Blocks Real Madrid's Access to Internal Documents in Negreira Case

Josep Maria Bartomeu, the former president of FC Barcelona, has revealed that he played a key role in obstructing Real Madrid's attempt to gain access to the internal financial documents of the Catalan club, amid ongoing developments referred to as the "Negreira Case."

According to details, Real Madrid submitted an official request to the Investigative Court No. 1 in Barcelona on December 22 last year, seeking access to internal documents from the club covering the period from 2003 to 2021. However, the request was denied following a legal objection raised by Bartomeu.

Background of the Negreira Case and Ongoing Investigations

The case centers on allegations that Barcelona made payments exceeding €7.3 million to José María Negreira, the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees, between 2001 and 2018. Investigations suggest that these payments were for verbal consultations regarding referees, while authorities suspect that the funds may have been intended to influence refereeing decisions, a claim that the Catalan club denies.

Swift Legal Action by Bartomeu

Real Madrid took advantage of the holiday season to file its request, which shortened the response time. Consequently, Bartomeu, through his attorney Josep Maria Foster-Fabra, submitted an official objection, emphasizing that granting access to these documents would reveal confidential information about a direct competitor. On February 2 of this year, Judge Alejandra Gil upheld the objection, ultimately denying Real Madrid's request.

Sensitive Information Requested

If the request had been granted, Real Madrid would have gained access to a range of sensitive data, including:
- Detailed financial reports of the club
- Contract strategies and investment plans
- Development records from the "La Masia" academy
- Tax and legal information
- Details of sponsorship contracts
- Data related to the "Espai Barça" project
- Key court documents, such as those related to the Neymar transfer
Barcelona's current president, Joan Laporta, welcomed the court's decision, stating that the ruling had "closed the door" on Real Madrid's attempt to access the club's internal documents during his visit to Albacete for a Copa del Rey quarterfinal match.

Origins of the Case Linked to Tax Irregularities

The roots of the case date back to 2023 when Spanish tax authorities uncovered financial irregularities related to a company owned by Negreira between 2016 and 2018, prompting the ongoing investigations that continue to this day.