Real Madrid Enters Negreira Case as Private Prosecutor, Presses Laporta on Barcelona Payments

Overview

• Real Madrid formally joined the case as a private prosecutor, gaining the ability to question witnesses and challenge Barcelona’s explanations.
• Club lawyers questioned Joan Laporta over a reported surge of up to 800% in payments to Negreira-linked entities and the absence of technical reports.
• Laporta defended Barcelona’s innocence, said payments were for consultancy, noted he did not know Negreira, and stated earlier reports were destroyed every five years.
• Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde testified by video that they were never offered or shown referee reports and said they did not feel officiating favored their teams.
• Former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu remain indicted, Negreira has been deemed unfit to testify for now, and criminal or financial penalties remain possible even though LaLiga sporting sanctions are time-barred.