Bartomeu Blocks Real Madrid's Bid to Access Barcelona's Internal Documents in Negreira Case

Josep Maria Bartomeu, the former president of FC Barcelona, disclosed that he played a direct role in preventing Real Madrid from accessing the Catalan club's internal financial documents amid developments in what is referred to as the "Negreira case."

According to reports, Real Madrid submitted a formal request on December 22 to the Court of Instruction No. 1 in Barcelona, seeking the right to review internal documents from 2003 to 2021. However, the request was denied after a legal objection led by Bartomeu.

Background on the Negreira Case and Ongoing Investigations

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

Bartomeu's Swift Legal Action

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, asserting that granting access to the documents would expose confidential information to a direct competitor. On February 2, Judge Alejandra Gil supported the objection and definitively rejected Real Madrid's request.

Sensitive Information Among Requested Documents

If the request had been approved, Real Madrid would have gained access to a wide range of sensitive data, including:
- Detailed financial reports of the club
- Recruitment strategies and investment plans
- Files related to the "La Masía" academy
- Tax and legal information
- Sponsorship contract details
- Data concerning the "Espai Barça" project
- Significant judicial files, such as the Neymar transfer case
Barcelona's current president, Joan Laporta, welcomed the court's decision, stating that the ruling "closed the door" on Real Madrid's attempt to access the club's internal documents. Laporta made these remarks while attending a Copa del Rey quarter-final match in Albacete.

The Case's Origins Relate to Tax Irregularities

The origins of the case trace back to 2023, when Spanish tax authorities uncovered financial irregularities linked to a company owned by Negreira during the period from 2016 to 2018, leading to ongoing investigations.