Negreira case update: Barcelona appeal latest decision accusing them of bribery

Accusations of bribery and corruption in the infamous Negreira case trial have taken centre stage at Barcelona in recent weeks.

The trial comes at an already arduous time for a club that has been battling the consequences of incompetent leadership and immense financial distress.

One of the latest developments in the trial has been the charges laid on the Catalans, with the examiner, Judge Joaquín Aguirre, issuing an order in which he maintains that Barcelona’s payments to Negreira, would constitute “bribery”.

The club had issued a statement reaffirming their innocence, and today, the program Què T’hi Jugues has reported that Barcelona have officially appealed against this accusation.

Negreira not a public official, say Barcelona lawyers

In a document addressed to the court, lawyers Cristóbal Martell and Marc Molins have appealed Joaquin Aguirre’s decision, considering that he does not hold a status of an official, nor an official for criminal purposes.

They also hold the position that his activity in the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) does not have the nature of exercising a public function, which means bribery must be ruled out.

The lawyers also claim that broadening the scope to 2001 across different management teams stretches “far beyond the extensive interpretation of the concepts of public official for criminal purposes.”

Which, put simply, means that Barcelona believe accusations against Joan Gaspart and Joan Laporta’s actions in 2001 are time-barred.

Just a few days earlier, former president of the RFEF Ángel María Villar also came out with a statement that favours Barcelona, stating that Negreira had no power when it came to appointing referees, but maintained that it would be a terrible look for refereeing if accusations are proven.

As of now, the doubt will continue to grow, but there seems to be no actionable evidence to sanction Barcelona.