Real Madrid send UEFA dossier over alleged Negreira payments to Barcelona

Real Madrid have sent a dossier to UEFA accusing Barcelona of securing seven La Liga titles through alleged referee corruption linked to payments to former referee vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. The payments totalled €8.4 million over 17 years between 2001 and 2018. Florentino Perez claims the affair cost Real Madrid dearly, alleging he could have won 14 La Liga titles instead of seven, describing the rest as “stolen.” The club has documented seven specific league campaigns they believe were lost due to refereeing decisions influenced by Negreira’s influence. The 2004-05 season is first on the list, where Barcelona won by four points. Real Madrid cite a penalty and card imbalance, with Barcelona awarded 10 penalties to Madrid’s five, alongside fewer red cards. The 2009-10 campaign followed, with Barcelona finishing on 99 points to Real Madrid’s 96 under Manuel Pellegrini. Madrid highlight dropped points at El Sadar, San Mamés, and Sánchez-Pizjuán as decisive. In 2010-11, Jose Mourinho’s first title challenge ended with Real Madrid on 92 points to Barcelona’s 96. The club points to a card imbalance, the “Clós Gómez’s 13 mistakes” list, and a red card in the Clasico at the Bernabéu involving Raúl Albiol.

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The 2014-15 season saw Cristiano Ronaldo score 48 goals, but Real Madrid lost by two points, attributing their fate to two derby defeats against Atlético Madrid. Zinedine Zidane’s first season as coach in 2015-16 was decided by a single point. Real Madrid’s primary grievance is the penalty disparity, with Barcelona allegedly awarded 19 penalties to Madrid’s nine. The 2020-21 title, won during the pandemic, is attributed to a contentious penalty awarded to Eder Militão against Sevilla and a disallowed handball decision in the Madrid derby. Finally, the 2024-25 season is included, with Real Madrid citing three refereeing performances against Espanyol, in the derby, and in Pamplona that erased a seven-point lead over Barcelona. Barcelona have denied any wrongdoing and were recently cleared by the Tax Agency of bribing referees. Perez has reiterated his stance, vowing to continue pursuing the case.