La Liga President Reveals Why Barcelona Could Be Relegated to Second Division in Spain

La Liga President Reveals Why Barcelona Could Be Relegated to Second Division in Spain

Isaac Darko
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:28 PM
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  • Barcelona have been accused of paying around €7million to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira’s between 2001 and 2018
  • Prosecutors will pursue legal action against the Catalans and the club could face sanctions
  • If found guilty, Barcelona could be relegated to the second tier of Spanish football

Barcelona could be sent to the Spanish second division of Spanish football in the wake of the corruption charges the club faces over paying officials.

Spanish prosecutors have charged Barcelona with corruption over payments the club made to a former vice president of Spain's referees' Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

The Catalan giants had paid the company of Enrique Negreira £7.4m between 2001 and 2018, which has caused much resentment within La Liga teams.

Javier Tebas, Barcelona
La Liga president Javier Tebas has confirmed Barcelona could be relegated to the second tier of Spanish football. Credit: @marca
Source: Getty Images

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

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La Blaugrana were indicted in court on charges of corruption, a breach of trust and falsifying business records, that could see Xavi Hernandez's side hit hard by La Liga.

AFter completing the signings of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde despite their financial turbulence, Barca are placed on top of the Spanish Primera Division.

The Camp Nou outfit are nine points clear of bitterest foes Real Madrid heading into the El Clasico on Sunday.

However, La Liga chief Tebas has revealed the consequences of "buying referees", which includes multimillion-euro fines and relegation to the second division.

"I do not believe that Barca bought referees, but there has been a situation that requires a clear explanation, he said via Daily Star.
"The sanction for buying referees? Very serious. Relegation to the second division, multimillion fines. The reputational damage done to Barcelona and La Liga is very important."

Supporters stage protest against Barcelona

Barcelona are at the centre of allegations that they paid the former vice-president of the Referee’s Committee, and their fellow La Liga clubs are not happy about it.

Athletic Club Bilbao’s supporters were the latest to voice their unhappiness at the allegations and made their feelings known during their side’s clash with Barcelona.

At the half-hour mark, Bilbao fans threw fake money from the stands onto the pitch as a mark of protest against the Catalan club.

Mourinho punches Barca amid scandal

Sports Brief also reported that 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 has resurfaced.

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 four 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.

Authors
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Isaac Darko
Isaac Darko is a La Liga, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga editor at Sports Brief with a Degree in Journalism and Communications from Ghana Institute of Journalism (2010)
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