The long-standing dispute between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid over the Negreira case saw a new development in May 2026. Real Madrid issued a statement demanding UEFA immediately resume the disciplinary proceedings opened in 2023. In the statement, Real's president Florentino Pérez calls for a "firm, exemplary, and immediate response in the sporting sphere" to protect the "integrity, transparency, and proper functioning of competitions." The club also highlighted its involvement in the ongoing criminal process as a private prosecutor.
Barcelona declined to comment directly on Real’s statement, saying "UEFA is the body that must speak and respond." However, the club released its own strong statement in which President Rafael Yuste sent formal letters to the presidents of La Liga, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, and the Referees’ Technical Committee. Barcelona asked these bodies to take action against Pérez’s declarations, deeming them "false" and seriously harmful to the reputation and credibility of La Liga and the entire refereeing collective. The club requested "associative and judicial measures" to protect the honor, integrity, and prestige of the institutions and competitions represented.
Previously, Barcelona announced plans to file a conciliation request prior to lodging a libel lawsuit against Florentino Pérez. As of May 2026, UEFA cannot close the case as it awaits decisions from Spanish courts. Only after judicial rulings can UEFA consider disciplinary sanctions at the sporting level.
Real Madrid refers to corruption since the case does not have a statute of limitations under UEFA’s Disciplinary Code. However, under Spanish Federation rules, the alleged infractions — payments made between 2001 and 2018 and revealed in 2023 — might be time-barred, with limitations ranging from three years to a month depending on severity. This legal nuance is under debate within the ongoing investigation.
This situation underlines the ongoing tension between the two clubs and the complex legal process influencing both sporting and reputational fields. Both sides maintain firm positions, with further actions depending on court rulings and UEFA’s response.
