"Barcelona suspected of possible bribery of referees

The Catalan club Barcelona is suspected of possible influence on referees during 2016-2018, Marca reports.

According to the source, the Catalans paid money to the technical director of the referees' committee, Jose Maria Negreira. It is noted that in the period from 2016 to 2018, according to an investigation by the Ciudad Condal prosecutor's office, Barcelona paid €1.3 million to DASNIL 95, a company owned by the former referee.

Negreira was a top flight referee for 13 seasons. According to the report, Barcelona paid the company €532,000 in 2016, €541,000 in 2017 and €318,000 in 2018.

Former technical director Henriques Negreira and his son have already testified to prosecutors. They said they were only advising the players on their behaviour on the pitch and in conversation with the referees.