Prosecutors to Pursue Legal Action Against Barcelona for Involvement in Referee Payment Scandal

• Spanish prosecutors will go after Barcelona for corruption as shocking referee payments saga escalates
• The Catalan giants are accused of making payments to former Vice President of the Referee’s Committee
• Barcelona were charged with paying Negreira and his company Dasnil 95, an estimated £7.4m

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.

According to Goal, 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.

While Barcelona's sporting integrity has also been questioned, they maintain that they were only interested in referee scouting reports to supplement the coaching staff’s matchday preparations.

Barcelona charged with corruption in referee affair

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If found guilty, Barcelona fear that they could face sporting sanctions with La Liga chief Javier Tebas already calling for the resignation of Joan Laporta as the club’s president.

Barcelona could be left out of Champions League

Meanwhile, Barcelona risk getting thrown out of the UEFA Champions League next season following the latest corruption scandal rocking the Catalan giants, Marca reports.

Barcelona's chances of competing in European competition next season are expected to be seriously jeopardized by the Public Prosecutor's Office's lawsuit and the charges it has been charged with.

Barcelona are accused of making payments to to former Vice President of the Referee’s Committee Negreira as part of a co-ordinated attempt to influence referees into making favourable decisions for the club.

Evidence suggests Negreira offered to help Barcelona

Barcelona: How the Catalan giants can solve their financial problems

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Earlier, Sports Brief reported Barcelona can't escape the controversy of the recent allegations made against them.

The Catalan club are accused of paying the former Vice-President of the Referee's Committee, Jose María Enríquez Negreira over a number of years.

While the club have denied any wrongdoing, recent information seems to suggest Barcelona were receiving preferential treatment for their payments.