La Liga president Javier Tebas has publicly accused Real Madrid of intentionally extending the Negreira investigation to harm Barcelona's reputation. Speaking at the World In Progress congress, Tebas claimed the capital club's legal appeals are a strategic move to keep the scandal in headlines rather than seek genuine answers.
Spanish courts are investigating payments made by Barcelona to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, former vice-president of the Referees' Technical Committee. No evidence of sporting corruption has been established.
Tebas suggested Real Madrid's aggressive focus on the case is politically motivated. He argued that Madrid's interest only intensified after Barcelona withdrew from the European Super League, and that Real Madrid's own president was on the board of directors for six months after the Negreira matter emerged without objecting at the time.
"They are stretching the Negreira case like chewing gum," Tebas stated, quoted by AS. "Real Madrid thinks Negreira is in every referee's dressing room at every stadium where Real Madrid plays."
The La Liga chief defended Barcelona's position, saying the club cannot be blamed for anything while judicial proceedings remain ongoing. "It must be clearly stated that what is happening with the constant attacks against Barcelona is unacceptable because this is a drawn-out affair," he said.
Tebas also separated Barcelona's situation from Manchester City's separate dispute with the Premier League, insisting Spain's judicial system will reach its own independent conclusion.
Source: goal.com
