A year ago
Barcelona have been charged with bribery after being accused of paying an arbitration body, which the club claims is 'an external technical consultant'
Barcelona faces corruption charges
Barcelona faces corruption charges
Barcelona are facing corruption allegations related to payments the club made to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-chairman of Spain's arbitration commission.
Last month, it was discovered that the Catalan side had paid Negreira and the company he owned a total of 8.4 million euros (£7.4 million) between 2001 and 2018. On Friday, a court The court of Barcelona has been informed that the LaLiga club, former officials and Negreira have been indicted for 'corruption', 'breach of trust' and 'forged business documents'.
Lawsuits have been purchased against the club as well as former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell. The prosecution said:
“FC Barcelona has reached and maintains a strictly confidential oral agreement with Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira to, as vice-chairman of the Technical Arbitration Committee (CTA) and in exchange for money, the latter execute take actions in favor of FC Barcelona. in the arbitrator's decisions.
It comes just days after Joan Laporta, the current president of Camp Nou, denied that Barcelona ever paid referees. He told reporters:
"We have a press conference where we will talk about this. Barcelona never buy referees and Barcelona never intended to buy referees - absolutely never.
"The force of truth contradicts those who are trying to change history. We are doing well again, nothing is accidental. There is a campaign to damage Barcelona's interests. It was a campaign to control the club. La Liga does not accept that Barcelona did not sign CVC."
LaLiga CEO Javier Tebas said last month that Laporta would have to quit if he could not explain the payments, which was first revealed by Ser Catalunya radio station. An investigation has been launched by the tax authorities against the company Dasnil 95 de Negreira.
The club was caught paying the referee
The club was caught paying the referee
Barcelona agreed to pay the company, described as an "external technical consultant", who produced the reports "for the purpose of completing the information requested by the coaching staff".
The Catalan team is currently at the top of La Liga, 8 points ahead of rival and defending champion Real Madrid. This was due to a major recruitment drive this summer, which also saw the club come under fire due to their high debts.
Barcelona and Tebas have also recently come into conflict, with the club blaming him for failing to keep Lionel Messi, who joined PSG for free at the end of his contract. LaLiga wage laws mean they cannot stay within the imposed wage limits.
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Liverpool transfer target Jude Bellingham is 'dreaming' of a move to Real Madrid after a private conversation with his Borussia Dortmund teammates emerged.
The 19-year-old has attracted interest from Europe's top league this season, with a possible move in the summer.
Liverpool are believed to be in the lead in signing him which has made him their transfer priority.
Meanwhile, Dortmund are set to demand more than £100m for their prized possession, who has a contract until 2025.
However, it has now been revealed that Bellingham 'dreams' of a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid. Bellingham 'dreams' of moving to Real Madrid
Spanish journalist Santi Aouna claims Bellingham told his Dortmund teammates he wanted to move to Real Madrid and 'dreams' of playing for the Spanish club.
Aouna also revealed the midfielder had an appointment with his father and Real Madrid boss Juni Calafat at the Chelsea Harbor hotel in London.
Zinedine Zidane is said to have been a major influence on his decision and has invited Bellingham's father to take his seat in the 2022 Champions League final.
Real Madrid duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are out of contract at the end of the season. Although Modric is said to have expressed a desire to stay at the Bernabeu for another year. While Kroos has publicly stated that he is in talks with the club's management about a new deal.
Spain's MARCA reports that Los Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that the aging trio of Modric, Kroos and Karim Benzema remain the 'backbone' of his team.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail recently suggested that Real could postpone the move to Bellingham for another year even though it could pay him a good salary.
Bellingham is said to be considering extending his stay in Germany, with the player wanting to continue to be a key part of Gareth Southgate's plans for Euro 2024.
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