When Mourinho Lashed Out at Biased Officiating in Favour of Barcelona Resurfaces Amid Corruption Scandal

• Barcelona have been officially charged in the referee payment scandal
• The club reportedly made payments to a company owned by a senior refereeing official to influence match results
• But all these will come as no surprise to Jose Mourinho, who pointed out bogus referee calls in favour of Barcelona back in 2011

Spanish giants FC Barcelona have been rocked with corruption allegations of influencing referees.

It is alleged that the club made payments amounting to almost €7 million - between 2001 and 2018 - to the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

Barca's referee scandal

Spanish prosecutors filed a complaint on Friday, March 10, against Barcelona and two of the La Liga club's former presidents over alleged payments to a company owned by a senior refereeing official to influence match results, per GOAL.

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Should the Catalan giants be found culpable of corruption, they could face serious sporting sanctions, including being thrown out of the 2023-24 Champions League.

Mourinho hints at biased refereeing

Amid the ongoing scandal, a clip of former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho suggesting Barca's successes, especially in the Champions League, were aided by biased referee calls.

The fire-brand tactician pointed out a sea of controversial calls that helped Barcelona progress in Europe's premier club competition between 2008 and 2011.

"Why didn't the referee call 4 clear penalties for Chelsea? Why were Motta and Van Persie sent off? Why? Where does this power come from? Pep won a Champions League in a way that I would be embarrassed to win," Jose said as quoted by IM.

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Barcelona charged with corruption

Spanish prosecutors have charged Barcelona with corruption over payments the club made to a former vice president of Spain's referees' committee through a company owned by him.

Barcelona had paid the company of Enrique Negreira, former Vice President of the Technical Committee of Referees €1.4m, which has caused much resentment within La Liga teams.

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

Barca risk Champions League ban

Sports Brief reported that Barcelona risk getting thrown out of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League following the latest refereeing scandal rocking the Catalan giants.

Barcelona are set to face a public prosecutors investigation over the ongoing El Caso Negreira/Negreira Case after they were charged to court on Friday, March 10.

According to Marca, filing the lawsuit by the Public Prosecutor's Office alongside the charges brought against Barcelona seriously jeopardises the club's chances of featuring in European competition next season.