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Controversy appears to be the defining theme of this international break. Barcelona have momentarily seized attention away from Manchester City as the Negreira affair has resurfaced in the headlines.
The Catalan club has been under investigation since 2023 for allegedly bribing former vice president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) refereeing committee José María Enríquez Negreira. The club stands accused of funneling over €7 million ($7.9 million) to a company belonging to Negreira in return for favorable decisions from match officials.
The payments spanned 17 years, running from 2001 to 2018. Barcelona maintain they were paying for refereeing consultancy and analysis, but fierce rivals Real Madrid submitted a dossier to UEFA containing evidence to the contrary.
UEFA confirmed receipt of the new documents, and its investigation into Barcelona's alleged misconduct remains ongoing. Significant consequences could await the reigning Spanish champions if found guilty, with AS reporting that Real Madrid have formally requested Barça be stripped of all titles won across those 17 years.
Every Title Barcelona Won From 2001 to 2018
Throughout the period in question, Barcelona were drowning in silverware. The club enjoyed its most dominant stretch in both Spain and Europe, accumulating trophy after trophy between 2001 and 2018.
The Catalans claimed an impressive nine La Liga titles, highlighted by their historic three-peat under Pep Guardiola from 2008–09 through 2010–11. Barcelona remain the last side to win three consecutive Spanish top-flight titles — a benchmark that Hansi Flick's current squad is aiming to replicate.
Additional domestic honors included six Copa del Rey titles and seven Spanish Super Cups. It comes as little surprise that Barcelona hold the record for the most trophies ever won in both competitions.
The centerpiece of their trophy collection, however, remains their Champions League triumphs. Four of the club's five total Champions League titles were secured during this 17-year window. Their 2014–15 victory stands as the last occasion Barcelona lifted club football's most coveted prize, and they have not even reached a Champions League final since.
Three of those Champions League victories were accompanied by UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup glory.
Title | Trophy Count | Seasons Won |
|---|---|---|
La Liga | 9 | 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18 |
Champions League | 4 | 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15 |
Copa del Rey | 6 | 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 |
Spanish Super Cup | 7 | 2005–06, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2016–17 |
UEFA Super Cup | 3 | 2009–10, 2011–12, 2015–16 |
Club World Cup | 3 | 2009–10, 2011–12, 2015–16 |
Which Titles Are in Danger of Being Stripped?
In addition to potentially banning Barcelona from Champions League competition for a season, European football's governing body also holds the authority to strip the club of trophies won in UEFA-sanctioned competitions.
Should UEFA decide to make an example of Barcelona, the club could be forced to relinquish four Champions League titles and three UEFA Super Cups. How likely that outcome is remains uncertain, though UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has previously spoken about how gravely the organization views the allegations against Barcelona.
"I cannot comment directly on this for two reasons. First, because we have an independent disciplinary committee in charge of it. Second, because I have not dealt with this matter in detail," he stated back in 2023. "However, I can say one thing. I have been informed and the situation is extremely serious. So serious, in my view, that it is one of the gravest I have seen in football.
"At the level of La Liga, of course, the matter is time-barred and cannot have competitive consequences, but proceedings are ongoing at the civil prosecutor's office in Spain. As far as UEFA is concerned, nothing is time-barred."
As Čeferin notes, La Liga is not conducting its own separate investigation into the matter, meaning Barcelona's domestic titles are likely to remain intact. There is a possibility that Spanish authorities could question the legitimacy of those titles if the Catalans are found guilty, but it is difficult to envision a scenario where the club forfeits more than 20 domestic honors without explicit approval from La Liga president Javier Tebas.