Former Barcelona President Speaks Out on "Many Issues" as Explosive Negreira Trial Kicks Off
Ex-Barcelona chief Josep Maria Bartomeu maintained that no corruption or bribery charges can be substantiated, following his court appearance in the continuing Negreira investigation.
Barcelona initially faced corruption allegations in 2023 when it emerged that a firm connected to José María Enríquez Negreira—former deputy head of Spain's referee committee (CTA)—had received €7.5 million ($8.8 million) from the club across 17 years.
The questionable transactions ceased in 2018, coinciding with Negreira's departure from the CTA.
Barcelona has confirmed these payments, which occurred under multiple presidencies, including those of Bartomeu, Sandro Rosell, and current leader Joan Laporta's initial tenure from 2003–10. However, the club has consistently maintained that these funds were for advisory services and intelligence designed to support their coaching operations.
Following his court testimony this week, Bartomeu spoke to media outside, asserting that numerous accusations against him and Barcelona have been "debunked."
Bartomeu declared: "Several of us who were part of the club during this period, from 2013–18, have given evidence. It has become evident that many of the theories that have been suggested have been debunked. Numerous matters have been resolved. Most importantly, it has been established that there were sporting consultancy services, referee analyses, and pre and post-match advisory services for both the senior squad and youth team, and that these advisory services warranted financial remuneration."
The former leader, who oversaw Barcelona during their financial collapse throughout the COVID crisis, additionally asserted that no payment was ever made to sway individual match officials.
"We don't compensate to manipulate: we compensate for sporting intelligence," he stated. "It's always been evident that certain factions have attempted to damage the greatest Barça [squad] in history. What is evident is that we've achieved tremendous success, we've had the greatest player in history [Lionel Messi], and we earned our victories.
"I repeat this, and former president Rosell has also stated it…we possessed the finest team globally and Barça has earned through merit all the competitions and trophies we successfully captured."
In 2023, the prosecution alleged: "FC Barcelona established and maintained a strictly private verbal arrangement with José María Enríquez Negreira so that, in his role as deputy head of the technical referee committee (CTA) and in return for payment, he would undertake actions designed to favor FC Barcelona in referee decisions."