Real Madrid said on Tuesday that it has submitted a written dossier to UEFA's disciplinary bodies over the so-called Negreira case and asked for sanctions against FC Barcelona. For Barça supporters, members and matchgoing fans in Barcelona, the immediate consequence is that the club now faces renewed scrutiny at European level, even though UEFA previously said it could not take action under its own time-limit rules.

In a club statement published through its official channels, Real Madrid said it had informed UEFA of what it described as relevant evidence reinforcing existing indications about "prolonged, opaque payments lacking any verifiable justification" allegedly made by FC Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Spanish football federation's referees committee.

"In relation to the so-called Negreira case," Real Madrid said it had presented a filing to UEFA's disciplinary bodies seeking action against Barcelona.

What Real Madrid says it has sent to UEFA

According to the club's statement, the filing concerns payments allegedly made by FC Barcelona to companies linked to Enríquez Negreira, who had served as vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees, the body within the Royal Spanish Football Federation, or RFEF, that oversees refereeing.

Real Madrid did not publish the full dossier in the material available on its official press pages, but it said the submission was aimed at UEFA's disciplinary organs. UEFA is European football's governing body and runs competitions including the Champions League.

  • Real Madrid says it has filed a dossier with UEFA.
  • The club says it wants disciplinary measures against FC Barcelona.
  • The filing relates to the long-running Negreira case in Spain.
  • The alleged payments concern companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira.

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Why UEFA's previous position matters

This latest move comes after UEFA previously acknowledged that it would not open action against Barcelona over the case because of its disciplinary regulations. In a 2023 statement still available on UEFA's integrity pages, the governing body said proceedings could not continue because the relevant conduct fell outside the limitation period set by its rules.

That means Real Madrid's request does not automatically lead to a new case. Any next step would depend on UEFA's own assessment of the material submitted and whether there is a legal basis to revisit the issue.

UEFA previously said no disciplinary proceedings could be pursued against Barcelona because the matter was time-barred under its regulations.

For local supporters planning next season's European fixtures, there is no announced sporting sanction at this stage. Barcelona remain under no new published UEFA punishment as of Tuesday.

Barcelona's position and the status of the case in Spain

FC Barcelona has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. In its official statement on the case, the club said it had hired external consultancy services related to refereeing matters and has maintained that it never bought influence over match officials.

The broader Negreira case remains under investigation in Spain. Allegations and claims made by clubs or prosecutors are not the same as a final judicial finding. No new UEFA ruling was published alongside Real Madrid's announcement.

The case has drawn attention because Enríquez Negreira held a senior refereeing role within the RFEF, the national football federation. Spanish sports law and criminal law issues linked to the matter continue to be handled through the Spanish legal system and football authorities, not by UEFA alone.

What residents and supporters should watch next

  • Any formal UEFA response on whether it will assess the new submission.
  • Any new statement from FC Barcelona addressing Real Madrid's filing.
  • Developments in the Spanish court process and any decisions by football authorities.
  • Official updates from UEFA, Real Madrid, Barcelona, the RFEF or LALIGA.

Supporters who want verified updates should check official club and governing body channels rather than social media rumours. If you spot an error or have a correction, you can reach our newsroom through Contact Us.

Primary sources: Boletín Oficial del Estado, Boletín Oficial del Estado, Boletín Oficial del Estado. Reported by ESPN, El Español, UEFA, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid C.F., Real Federación Española de Fútbol, LALIGA, Spanish public procurement / official state portal, L'Empordà.