Real announces that it wants to enter the proceedings against FC Barcelona as a victim.
Real Madrid wants to appear as a joint plaintiff in the corruption case against FC Barcelona. The top Spanish club officially announced this on Sunday after a special meeting of its board.
In a statement from Real states: “Real Madrid expresses its deep concern at the seriousness of the matter and reiterates its full confidence in the judicial process. The club declares that it will appear in the proceedings to defend its legitimate interests as soon as the judge decides to do so for the injured parties opened.”
Last week, the Barcelona public prosecutor charged FC Barcelona, former club officials and ex-referee Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira with “corruption”, “embezzlement” and “falsified documents”. The allegations made by the Barcelona Public Prosecutor’s Office are aimed in particular at Barça as a legal entity and at former club presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell.
Payments in the millions between 2001 and 2018 went to a Negreira company, who was then Vice President of the Referee Committee. Both sides have admitted the business connections, but deny the accusation of corruption.
According to Negreira, his company verbally advised the club on how players should behave towards certain referees. Barça described such advisory services as “normal”.
In reality, this is obviously different. The club leadership of the Champions League winner called the unscheduled board meeting on Saturday and now speaks in their statement of “serious allegations” against the Blaugrana.
Barcelona’s current president Joan Laporta addressed his club’s supporters directly via Twitter on Sunday afternoon: “Culers, keep calm. Barca are innocent and the victim of a campaign against our honor that everyone is now taking part in. It is not surprising that we will defend Barça and demonstrate the innocence of our club. Many will have to correct themselves.”
