Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has called for “justice” after rivals FC Barcelona were charged with bribery by the Investigative Court No. 1 of Barcelona as part of the Negreira case.
On Thursday, a local court document confirmed that Barca had been charged with “active bribery” in the case relating to payments made to former referee chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira during an 18 year period.
Payments are alleged to have been made in order for the club to receive preferential treatment including receiving written reports and DVDs featuring detailed analysis on referees and their behavioural patterns.
“Regarding the legal entity of FC Barcelona and the club directors under investigation, a continuing crime of active bribery is attributed to them”, the document read.
“FC Barcelona paid through intermediary companies to one of the three vice-presidents of the Technical Committee of Referees integrated into the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
“Fact not denied and documented. EN [Enriquez Negreira] had the status of public official for criminal purposes given that he carried out public functions as vice-president of the CTA, those related to the qualifications of referees and the promotion and demotion of referees among others.”
Speaking during a press confirmation following the news that a charge in line with “the crime of sports corruption of article 286bis 4th CP”, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed that he was “worried” by the revelations in the case, saying:
“On this issue, I am worried, like the entire football world about such a serious matter. Justice is working on this and we have to let them work.
“I have lived in this world of football for 40 years and when these types of issues happen it worries us all. I hope that justice can do its job and reach a solution.”
Back in March, Real Madrid also released a statement expressing the club’s “deep concern” at the allegations levied at Barcelona:
“Real Madrid expresses its deep concern about the seriousness of the facts, and reiterates its full confidence in the action of justice. It has agreed that, in defence of its legitimate interests, it will appear in the procedure as soon as the judge opens it to the injured parties.”
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