Real Madrid convinced UEFA will sanction Barcelona over Negreira case

Real Madrid are convinced that UEFA will end up sanctioning Barcelona over the Negreira case. The club believe that the governing body's confirmation of the dossier sent by the Spanish giants goes well beyond simply adding information to the file that has remained open since 2023.

• Real Madrid submitted a dossier of more than 50,000 pages to UEFA on June 17.
• The club believe UEFA now has enough arguments to sanction Barcelona.
• European regulations allow for a one-season Champions League ban and a fine.
• Payments to the refereeing committee's vice-president over 15 years would breach the UEFA code of ethics.
• The sporting disciplinary process is independent from the criminal case in Spain.

Why Real Madrid see the 50,000-page dossier as crucial

The report delivered to UEFA on June 17 contains more than 50,000 pages. Real Madrid argue that this material will prove decisive in pushing European football's governing body to take action against Barcelona, as it includes details that had not been part of the file until now.

From the club's perspective, that lack of information explains why proceedings had stalled for months while awaiting a ruling in the Spanish courts. With the dossier on the table, UEFA would finally have enough grounds to act under its own regulations.

What punishment UEFA could impose on Barcelona

European rules include sanctions for any club directly or indirectly involved in activities aimed at fixing or influencing the outcome of a match, whether at national or international level. The potential punishment includes exclusion from the Champions League for one season, plus a corresponding fine.

Real Madrid believe Barcelona's payments to the vice-president of the refereeing committee over a 15-year period represent a serious breach of UEFA's code of ethics. That violation would reinforce the case for a disciplinary sanction independent of any criminal proceedings.

The sporting case does not depend on a criminal verdict

Real Madrid stress that sporting disciplinary proceedings and the judicial process in Spain are compatible and do not condition each other. Someone can be found criminally guilty without facing disciplinary consequences, and conversely, a criminal case can be dismissed while sporting sanctions still apply.

In this scenario, the club, who have joined the case in the Spanish courts, are pushing for punishment in the sporting arena. Real Madrid believe the dossier sent to UEFA offers more than enough grounds to justify disciplinary action against Barcelona.

The role of UEFA in the Negreira case

European football's governing body has kept a file open on the Negreira case since 2023. While the process had not moved forward until now, Real Madrid's position is that the information submitted in June allows the case to progress and concrete measures against the Catalan club to be considered.

Frequently asked questions about a possible UEFA sanction on Barcelona