Scandal Hits Spanish Football As Referees Under Investigation for Corruption

• Four La Liga referees are currently being investigated for corruption by Spanish prosecutors
• The anti-corruption body is investigating the assets of the La Liga referees which they say is very bulky
• The four referees are said to have paid cash for luxury apartments without requesting any credit from any bank

La Liga has come under scrutiny again after four referees were accused of corruption and are currently being investigated by Spanish authorities.

The news come just a month after Barcelona was accused of bribing referees after the Catalan club paid former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees José Maria Enriquez Negreira.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the maximum manager of VAR in Spain, Clos Gomez, alongside Jaime Latre, Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez, and Sanchez Martinez, are all being investigated for buying properties worth millions in Euros in cash.

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The four referees in question are said to be owners of luxury apartments, chalets with a plot, and many parking spaces, and all properties were bought with cash without requesting any credit from any bank.

The Spanish prosecutor's office is studying a report on the bulky assets of these four First Division referees and is expected to take all referees involved to court.

La Liga director happy with Barcelona

Meanwhile, La Liga General Director Javier Gomez has praised Barcelona for their effort in trying to raise €250m for the Catalan club to be able to afford new signings this summer, Football Espana reports.

Barcelona are looking to make €100m in sales and has reportedly put up some of the club’s stars for sale, including Jordi Alba and newly recruited Raphinha.

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Barcelona are only able to put 40 percent of their income towards new recruits given that money has to go towards salaries, agents, and transfer fees; that €100m target would only allow for a €33.3m investment.

Prosecutors drag Barcelona to court

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Barcelona is expected to be the subject of a public prosecutors investigation into the ongoing El Caso Negreira/Negreira Case following allegations of corruption against the team.

It is alleged that the Catalan giants paid former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, nearly £7.4million from 2001-2018.

Prosecutors have now officially denounced Barcelona and will pursue legal action against the club in light of the payments after protests from 18 of the 20 La Liga clubs.