New facts have been revealed in the scandal accusing FC Barcelona of paying huge sums to a company belonging to Jose Maria Enriquez Negrera, former vice-chairman of the Technical Referees Committee of the Spanish Football Federation.
Enriquez Negrera offered to "help" Barcelona with VAR despite the termination of his advisory contract with the club.
Reports last month indicated that the Catalan club paid 6.5 million euros ($6.9 million) between 2001 and 2018 to a Negrira subsidiary.
And after the discovery of Profax in which Negrera demands that Barcelona continue to pay despite the termination of the contract, El Mundo newspaper revealed new evidence of Negrera's contact with Barcelona in 2020, as he provided his expertise in the new technology of the video assistant referee (VAR) technology. , which appeared in 2018 and was subsequently adopted in the Spanish League.
🚨 Spanish official Enriquez Negreira offered his services to Barcelona after being fired with a disturbing proposal:
"I can help you with VAR"
(Source: @ElMundoDeportes) pic.twitter.com/4dhi67jf0g
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) March 7, 2023
The newspaper said Negrera wrote to the FC Barcelona board saying, "I can help you with the VAR technology. If you are interested, contact me."
While Barcelona's response to Negrera's offer was not disclosed, the news has raised new tensions in the ongoing case, especially as reports indicate that the club has benefited greatly from VAR decisions this season.
🚨 #ElMundo the abogado of Negreira al Barça: "The act of Barcelona and especially of Mr. Bartomeu is incomprensible, if the causaria is a profunda decepción después de tantos años de relación, de tantos favores prestados, de tantas confidencias compartidas" #Barçagate pic.twitter.com/kRz56ONIZZ
- FĂştbolgate.com (@futbolgate_ES) February 22, 2023
Laporta defends Barcelona
These facts were revealed after FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed yesterday, Tuesday, that his club had never "bought referees," noting that Negrera was paid for reports and advice on referees.
Spanish prosecutors are investigating the payments, and El Pais newspaper said they intend to report Barcelona "for continued sporting corruption".
Laporta said - during events in Barcelona - that "Barcelona never bought referees, and Barca never had any intention of buying referees at all."
"The power of facts contrasts with those who try to change the story. We're doing a good job again, nothing is accidental."