The Spanish Football Referees Association (AESAF) took action on the resounding 'Negreira case' and the videos against the arbitration system broadcast by Real Madrid Televisión. Through a statement, the union expressed its discontent with both issues.
In this sense, the Association initially spoke about the case related to FC Barcelona, which links the blaugrana entity for payments to José María Enriquez Negreira, former vice president (from 1994 until the end of the 2017/18 season) of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) of Spanish football.
"With respect to the case opened in the Barcelona Court that investigates the payments made by F.C. Barcelona to the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Mr. Enríquez Negreira, we have indicated to our legal services to initiate the procedures to study the possibility of presenting ourselves as a private prosecution in the currently open process."
Likewise, they emphasize that no referee was influenced by Enríquez Negreira during the period that he was part of the Spanish arbitration system. They also expressed their intention to defend their honor in court.
"In this process, there is an accusation of corruption in the arbitration establishment that we absolutely cannot share, since we can affirm, without any doubt, that not a single colleague throughout his activity on the playing fields has made any sporting decision based on the supposed influence that Mr. Enríquez could have on our group.”
It should be noted that the 'Negreira case' revolves around payments for the amount of 7.5 million euros between 2001 and 2018 to José María Enríquez Negreira and his son José Enríquez Romero, through companies linked to both.
Barça's position on the 'Negreira case'
FC Barcelona has stated that the payments were made to receive arbitration advice and for technical reports from the various referees. The Catalan team has not denied the payments, but maintains that they are innocent of any irregularity.
Likewise, the board of the azulgrana team has also assured that there was never any intention of wanting to influence the refereeing or much less alter the competition.
The association points against RMTV
For its part, the referees' union pointed harshly against the arbitration videos broadcast by Real Madrid Televisión, rejecting that these are under the premise of freedom of expression, in accordance with the ruling issued by the Central Court of Administrative Litigation No. 4 of Madrid.
It is important to mention that on July 1, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) was ordered to reopen the disciplinary file against Real Madrid for one of its campaigns broadcast against the referees on Real Madrid TV.
“From the Spanish Association of Football Referees we want to express our satisfaction with the ruling, insofar as it considers that the conduct of Real Madrid C.F. may constitute a disciplinary infraction in accordance with articles 66, 68, 69, 70 and 106 of the Disciplinary Code of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)”.
AESAF also pointed out that the independence of the work carried out by sports judges is being attacked, which cannot be allowed for the good of the sport. In addition, they will study the possibility of appearing in the process against Real Madrid TV.
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