Real Madrid announces the club will join Barcelona-Negreira trials
Blaugrana have been charged with 'continued sporting corruption' over several payments they made to the former vice president of Spain's refereeing committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. Real Madrid is ready to appear at any trial that stems from the complaint.
Earlier this year, the Negreira scandal emerged, with allegations that Barcelona paid former referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez for information on how to receive favorable calls from match officials. Gonzalez and his company reportedly received around €7 million from the club between 2001 and 2018 for reports and videos related to referees.
A Real Madrid statement read: "In their meeting held today, the Real Madrid CF board of directors have inspected the serious accusations brought by the Barcelona prosecution service against FC Barcelona, two of its former presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, and executives Albert Soler and Oscar Grau, on the basis of alleged offences of corruption in sports, among others, all related to the relationship the club maintained with the former vice-president of the CTA, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
"Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost concern regarding the gravity of the facts and reiterates its confidence in the legal system. The club has agreed that, in defense of its legitimate rights, it will appear at the trial when the judge opens it up to the affected parties."
However, Joan Laporta used Twitter on Sunday to reassure fans, writing: "Culers [Barca fans], you can be calm. Barca is innocent of the accusations made against it and is the victim of a campaign, that now involves everyone, to harm its honourability.
"It is no surprise, and we will defend Barca and prove that the club is innocent. Many will be forced to rectify."
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