Negreira seeks new medical examination as cognitive decline worsens
Former referee committee VP requests another forensic evaluation in ongoing Barcelona payments scandal, claiming his condition has deteriorated since 2023.
Former referee committee vice-president caught up in the Barcelona payments scandal is seeking a fresh medical assessment, claiming his cognitive abilities have deteriorated further since last year’s examination.
Medical claims at the heart of legal strategy
José María Enríquez Negreira, through his lawyer Daniel Pérez-Esqué, has formally requested the judge investigating the payments he received from Barcelona to order a new forensic examination. His legal team argues that his cognitive decline has worsened significantly since his initial assessment in 2023, potentially hampering his ability to defend himself properly in the ongoing case.
The former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) is seeking to determine if his condition has deteriorated to the point where he could be removed from the case on grounds of dementia – a move that would effectively shield him from prosecution.
The scandal in context
Negreira is under investigation alongside former Barcelona presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, among others, regarding more than €7 million in payments he received from the Catalan club between 2001 and 2018. Prosecutors suspect these payments may be linked to sporting corruption – a right old mess for all involved.
Previous medical findings
The timeline of medical assessments shows:
- 2023: Examined by forensic doctors at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Catalonia shortly after the case opened
- January 2024: Forensic doctors concluded Negreira had mild cognitive impairment
- Recent report: The ACE Foundation (an international reference center for Alzheimer’s treatment) now suggests his condition has worsened
The ACE specialists claim Negreira now suffers from level 5 cognitive impairment on the Reisberg GDS scale, which indicates “moderate dementia” – a significant deterioration from previous assessments.
What happens next?
Despite these claims of worsening health, it’s worth noting that Negreira was summoned for questioning in March 2024, where he exercised his right to remain silent. His legal team now insists that “the deterioration he has suffered during this period of time is indisputable” and maintains that a new forensic assessment is necessary.
The judge’s decision on whether to grant this request could significantly impact how the high-profile case proceeds against the former referee boss.