Barcelona Very Attentive To Real Madrid’s Response Over The Negreira Scandal
Just before the Espanyol game, Real Madrid came up with an official statement regarding the Enriquez Negreira payoff scandal involving FC Barcelona.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have been caught off-guard by the statement, where the club president Florentino Perez called for a meeting of the Board of Directors, in order to figure out Real Madrid’s approach to the matter.
“In light of the serious nature of accusations presented by the Barcelona Prosecution Service against F.C. Barcelona and two of its presidents based on reasonable suspicions of corruption and their relationship with the former Vice-President of the Technical Referees Committee (CTA), José María Enríquez Negreira, the president has convened an urgent meeting of the Board of Directors tomorrow, Sunday the 12th of March 2023, at 12:00 pm, in order to decide on Real Madrid’s appropriate course of action in regard to this matter,” the statement read.
The report from Mundo Deportivo suggests both Barcelona and Real Madrid have a fluid relationship and work in good faith, especially due to their common goal of initiating the European Super League (ESL).
Barcelona has denied the accusations, branding it as an “absolutely preliminary investigative hypothesis”. It has also reiterated that the club have “never bought any referee or tried to influence arbitration decisions.”
But Real Madrid’s interest in the investigation reports could raise enmity between the two clubs that share a rich history of the rivalry.
Barcelona’s position on this matter was to not say anything until they knew what Real Madrid would communicate. But after the announcement, the club have appeared attentive to the matter and it will be interesting to see how things transpire in the coming weeks.
The two sides are notably slated to meet each other in La Liga next week, in what could be a crucial game in the context of the race for the league title.
