LaLiga says it’s too late to sanction Barca for payments to former referee official

By: News Team

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LaLiga says it's too late to sanction Barca for payments to former referee official

LaLiga president Javier Tebas said it would be too late for the league to sanction FC Barcelona for payments made to a company owned by a senior official in Spain’s refereeing body, although it could be possible “in the realm of criminal jurisdiction”.

Spanish radio station Cadena SER said on Wednesday that Barcelona made the payments between 2016 and 2018 to a company owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, who was at the time vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA).

Spanish prosecutors said they are investigating payments of around 1.4 million euros ($1.49 million) made by Barcelona.

Barcelona said in a statement that it is aware of the investigation. He said the club “engaged the services of an external technical consultant” who supplied it with “technical reports related to professional refereeing,” calling it “standard practice in professional football clubs.”

Thebes said Thursday that it was clear that the services “should never have been provided” but would have expired.

“It is not possible for sports disciplinary sanctions to exist, because from the 18th to the 23rd five years have passed and this type of sanctions prescribe three years after the events have occurred,” he said.

“Another thing is in the field of criminal jurisdiction, which is now the Prosecutor’s Office investigating the events that happened and if there may be a possible crime of corruption between individuals in the version of rigging in the sports field.”

Cadena SER picked up comments from Enríquez Negreira saying his advice was verbal and included the players’ interactions with the referees, denying ever favouring Barcelona in any refereeing decision or dispute.

(1 dollar = 0.9404 euros)

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