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Real Madrid Requests Six-Month Extension in Negreira Case Investigation

Real Madrid has officially requested a six-month extension to the investigation into the high-profile Negreira Case, seeking to prolong the inquiry phase until March 1, 2026. The club submitted this petition to Barcelona’s Court of Instruction No. 1, arguing that the current deadline of September 1, 2025 is not enough to uncover the full scope of the matter.

Madrid Cites Early Stage of the Case

As a private plaintiff in the proceedings, Real Madrid emphasized in a motion dated July 8 that the case remains in its preliminary phase. The club noted that only José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice president of Spain’s Referees Technical Committee (CTA), has appeared before the court so far—and he declined to testify, invoking his constitutional right to remain silent.

Madrid argues this silence underscores the lack of substantive progress, and insists more time is required due to the sheer complexity and sensitivity of the allegations.

High-Profile Testimonies Yet to Occur

Real Madrid’s motion also pointed out that several key figures have yet to provide testimony. These include:

Javier Enríquez Romero, Negreira’s son
Former Barça presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu
Former executives Óscar Grau and Albert Soler
Current Barcelona president Joan Laporta
Former head coaches Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde

Their testimonies, Real Madrid argues, are critical to gaining clarity on the payments in question and their potential influence on refereeing decisions.

The Case Background

The Negreira Case revolves around allegations that FC Barcelona made multi-year payments to Negreira—reportedly for technical consultancy and referee reports. However, Spanish prosecutors are probing whether those payments were aimed at manipulating refereeing outcomes in domestic competitions.

Given the duration of the payments, the number of parties involved, and the legal and sporting implications, Real Madrid believes an additional six months of investigation is not just justified—but necessary.

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