The reputational cost of the 'Negreira case': 69% of those surveyed believe that Barcelona should be sanctioned

• Criminal proceedings Estrada Fernández ratifies his complaint against Negreira

• Exclusiva Negreira withdrew up to 20,000 euros a month in cash while collecting from Barcelona

, president of Barcelona, ​​continues

working on the answer to the reason for the large payments -in exchange for alleged advice- from Barcelona to

, former number two of the referees.

In the Barcelona entity they try to quantify, and also control, the reputational damage in this month of March in which he promised to close the financing of Espai Barça.

In Spanish society, meanwhile, the scandal has permeated no matter how much the hypothetical consequences

penal or sporting actions are yet to be seen.

Thus, 69.2% of those surveyed by Sigma Dos for EL MUNDO believe that FC Barcelona "should" be sanctioned.

In Spain, however, the administrative route is blocked.

The statute of limitations for "very serious" infringements is three years from the Sports Law of 1990, the same time that the new Law of 2022 includes. And Barcelona paid its last invoice to Enríquez Negreira in 2018 -the commercial relationship It has been accredited since 2001, and reported 6.6 million euros to the former referee.

The Spanish Football Federation, however, has offered its collaboration to UEFA after claiming the highest continental body for the documentation in its possession in case it could lead to punishment.

To know more

The emergence of UEFA.

Why can Barça be sanctioned for sports in Europe?

• Drafting:

  LUCAS SAEZ-BRAVO

  Madrid

Why can Barça be sanctioned for sports in Europe?

Regarding criminal proceedings, the complaint filed by the arbitrator

against Enríquez Negreira and his son

for alleged sports corruption has paralyzed the investigation of the Prosecutor's Office.

The cause, thus, should be assumed by the Number One Investigating Court of Barcelona when the complaint is admitted for processing.

The Sigma Dos survey for EL MUNDO, prepared between February 24 and March 2 from 1,772 telephone interviews with people over the age of 18 residing in Spain, offers political nuances to the reception of the scandal in society.

They are the voters of the PP (82.4%) and Vox (81.9%) who most demand sanctions for the Barça club.

The voters of the government coalition are somewhat more restrained with respect to a hypothetical punishment, requesting it by 75.6% of socialist voters, and 69.9% of those of United We Can.

sigma2_2023_marzo_special_preg_23_barcelona_sanction

The survey, in any case, certifies the great distrust of society regarding the functioning of professional football in Spain.

In fact, 88.6% of those surveyed believe that there is "corruption" in Spanish football.

The data is overwhelming.

In fact, 77.5% of those surveyed believe that there is "a lot" or "enough" corruption in national football.

Only 11.1% consider that this is "little", and only 2.1% envision a total cleaning of professional competitions in Spain.

Contrast in this case the discordant position of the voters of the PSOE and Unidas Podemos after revealing some of the internalities of the

.

56.3% of the voters of United We Can respond that there is "a lot" of corruption in our football.

On the other hand, socialist voters lower that perception to 38.6%.

sigma2_2023_marzo_special_preg_24_soccer_corruption

The Secretary General of the Spanish Federation (RFEF),

, during the massive appearance last Thursday together with the arbitration group, even put the focus of suspicion on the Government: «There would be a person who, knowing the facts, did not denounce them when he had governmental responsibilities.

We are studying filing a complaint or complaint, "said the federation leader without wanting to clarify if he was referring to

, former Barca senior executive (2014-2021), and who was Secretary of State for Sport and president of the Higher Sports Council.

The voters of the Popular Party, despite their firmness regarding the request for sanctions against Barcelona, ​​nevertheless maintain a somewhat more lukewarm position regarding their perception of corruption in Spanish football.

33.3% of their voters believe that there is "a lot".

And 14.7% maintain that there is "little".

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