Bartomeu digs heels in over Negreira case documents after Madrid request
Former Barcelona president refuses to hand over additional documentation in the referee corruption case following Real Madrid's formal petition for extensive club records.
The Negreira case has taken another twist as Josep Maria Bartomeu, the former Barcelona president, refuses to play ball with Real Madrid’s document demands.
Blocking Madrid’s access
According to radio program ‘Què t’hi jugues!’, Bartomeu has formally rejected Real Madrid’s request for additional documentation in the ongoing referee corruption investigation. Through his lawyer, he’s told the investigating judge that Los Blancos are simply trying to get their hands on private Barcelona information for competitive advantage.
The white club had made quite the shopping list request late last year, asking for:
- Eight years of Barcelona audits
- Due diligence reports
- Annual accounts covering the entire 18-year period (2001-2018) during which Barça made payments to José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees
Bartomeu’s defense
The radio program obtained access to Bartomeu’s submission to the court, where his position is crystal clear. He argues that Madrid is not just a procedural opponent but a direct “RIVAL in the sporting and financial sphere” seeking internal reports on Barcelona’s financial and commercial activities.
In his submission, Bartomeu claims Madrid’s request is “aimed at obtaining documentation very likely for uses unrelated to the legal process” - basically suggesting they’re after the Barça books for reasons that have naff all to do with the case itself.
What has been provided
Bartomeu hasn’t completely stonewalled the investigation, mind you. The former president has apparently already supplied what he considers relevant documentation in his possession - specifically technical reports prepared by Javier Enríquez, son of the aforementioned Negreira.
The document notes that “regarding Mr. Bartomeu, the payments from FCB and the service compensation are documented in the proceedings,” adding that “the reports and CDs in the case correspond precisely to the period of Mr. Bartomeu’s presidency.”
This one’s turning into a proper Barcelona-Madrid derby off the pitch, with neither side willing to give an inch. The Negreira saga continues to bubble away like a dodgy plate of paella, and it’s anyone’s guess how this particular rabbit hole ends.