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Spanish prosecutors are investigating about 1.four million euros ($2.three million) in funds soccer giants Barcelona remodeled three years to an organization owned by a high-ranking official of Spain’s refereeing physique, the membership has confirmed.
Spanish radio Cadena SER stated on Wednesday that the soccer membership made the funds between 2016 and 2018 to an organization of Jose Maria EnrÃquez Negreira, who was on the time vice-president of a refereeing committee of the Spanish soccer affiliation.
Barcelona stated in a press release that it was conscious of the investigation.
It stated the membership had “employed the companies of an exterior advisor” that equipped it with “technical reviews associated to skilled refereeing”, calling it “a typical apply amongst skilled soccer golf equipment”.
It stated the advisor additionally offered, in video format, reviews about youth gamers from different Spanish golf equipment.
Nonetheless, former membership president Josep Maria Bartomeu informed Mundo Deportivo sports activities day by day in a while Wednesday the funds went again earlier than 2003 and totaled 575,000 euros ($890,000) per 12 months because the 2009-2010 season earlier than they bought stopped in 2018 as a part of cost-cutting measures.
Requested about his remarks, Barcelona supplied no additional remark, referring to its unique assertion.
The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) stated in a press release that Enriquez Negreira has had no official position since 2018 and that “no lively referee or member of the CTA our bodies can perform any work that’s more likely to enter right into a battle of curiosity” .
In line with Spanish media reviews, prosecutors launched the probe in 2022 after a tax workplace inspection of an organization owned by Enriquez Negreira, discovered no file or companies offered to Barcelona in return for 1.four million euros in funds.
Cadena SER quoted Enriquez Negreira as saying that his recommendation was verbal and included gamers’ interactions with referees and that he denied ever favoring Barcelona in any refereeing selections or disputes.
– Reuters
