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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Barca face corruption charges over Negreira scandal</li><li>Payments made to former refereeing official</li><li>Prosecutor's Office opposes bribery accusation</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Huge let off for Barcelona in Negreira case? La Liga champions may NOT face prosecution for bribery over payments to refereeing official

LaLiga

Almeria

Barcelona

According to news agency EFE, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has opposed the investigation into Barcelona's alleged bribery of Jose Maria Enrique Negreira - a former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee. The office believe that because Negreira was not a public servant, his status does not meet the necessary requirements to charge him and Barcelona with bibery.

WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Spanish outlet <a href="https://www.marca.com/futbol/barcelona/2024/02/02/65bd34feca4741d8348b45ac.html" target="_blank">Marca</a>, the Barcelona Court must now decide whether to revoke the decision to level bribery charges against Barca and those in the Negreira case - which <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/barcelona-investigacao-suborno-arbitros-corrupcao/blted7c7f5a3e94abfa#csc2a6765ac28cdcdf" target="_blank">occurred back in September last year</a>. This could be a big boost for the Spanish giants or a temporary reprieve as they could still face punishment from La Liga, among others.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Between 2001 and 2018, Barcelona<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/barcelona-33-payments-referee-vice-president-206-2018/bltbab0641faaf63e5e"> made 33 payments to a company owned by Negreira</a>, who was vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA). Barcelona have vowed to clear their name in court,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/more-trouble-for-barcelona-uefa-opens-investigation-negreira-referee-payments-scandal/blt33bc0acfa09d5271">having been charged with corruption</a>.

DID YOU KNOW?

It is just a matter of waiting and seeing what will happen off the pitch for Barcelona and those accused in this matter. On the pitch, Xavi's Barca travel to Alaves on Saturday evening in La Liga action.

WHAT NEXT?

Huge let off for Barcelona in Negreira case? La Liga champions may NOT face prosecution for bribery over payments to refereeing official | Goal.com English Qatar

Barcelona may not be prosecuted for alleged corrupt payments to an official following developments from Spain&apos;s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor&apos;s Office.

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