{"id":2049556,"date":"2023-09-29T12:33:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T16:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/barcelona-under-investigation-for-suspected-bribery-in-refereeing-case\/"},"modified":"2023-09-29T12:39:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T16:39:44","slug":"barcelona-under-investigation-for-suspected-bribery-in-refereeing-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/barcelona-under-investigation-for-suspected-bribery-in-refereeing-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Barcelona investigated for alleged referee bribery."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbarcelona-under-investigation-for-suspected-bribery-in-refereeing-case%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2049556&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"entry-content\">\n<h2>Barcelona Under Investigation for Suspected\u2064 Bribery in Soccer Scandal<\/h2>\n<p>By Fernando Kallas<\/p>\n<p>September 28, 2023 \u2013 10:24 PM PDT<\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-1\" style=\"min-width: 320px; min-height: 50px;  text-align: center;\">\n<script>\ngoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-1'); });\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-slot__ad-label\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>MADRID (Reuters) &#8211; Spanish soccer club Barcelona is currently under investigation for suspected &#8220;active bribery&#8221; as part of a probe into corruption that has spanned two decades at the refereeing committee, according to a court document seen by Reuters on \u2063Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Police have \u2063also conducted searches at the offices of\u2064 the Spanish \u200crefereeing committee (CTA) inside the football \u2062federation (RFEF) headquarters in Madrid, as part of the ongoing inquiry into &#8220;possible\u200c systemic corruption&#8221; within the CTA.<\/p>\n<p>Spanish football, particularly the RFEF, is\u2064 facing a moment of reckoning amidst allegations of sexual abuse against former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales.<\/p>\n<p>Rubiales caused controversy when he kissed World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips on\u2064 Aug. 20, overshadowing both the women&#8217;s team triumph in Sydney and the\u200c refereeing scandal. Rubiales has since resigned.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation into the refereeing scandal has now expanded to include Barcelona as a\u200b suspect. Investigating judge Joaquin Aguirre Lopez stated earlier in September that the club may have benefited \u200dfrom corrupt practices.<\/p>\n<p>In March, prosecutors filed a complaint over alleged payments of over 7.3 million euros ($7.8 million) made over 17 years to companies owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, who served as vice-president of the RFEF&#8217;s refereeing committee from 1993 to 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Reuters has been unable to\u2062 reach Negreira for comment, and the RFEF was not immediately available for a statement.<\/p>\n<p>A source from Barcelona informed\u200d Reuters that the club will \u200cnot issue an official statement, but their criminal lawyers have been prepared \u2062for this investigation\u2062 from \u200bthe beginning, working on all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/one-of-the-most-harmful-ingredients-in-processed-foods\/\" title=\"One The Most Harmful Ingredients In Processed Foods\">aspects related<\/a> to the case.<\/p>\n<p>Barcelona manager \u2063Xavi, \u2063who \u200dplayed for the club between 1998 and 2015, told reporters that he has never felt referees favoring them.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I have never, ever had the \u200csensation that the referees were ruling in our favor. Never, ever,&#8221; he \u2062stated.<\/p>\n<p>LaLiga champions Barcelona \u200dhave denied any wrongdoing, stating in a February statement that the club \u200bhad paid an external consultant for &#8220;technical reports related to professional refereeing,&#8221; which they claimed is a common practice among professional \u2062football clubs.<\/p>\n<p>Barcelona&#8217;s arch-rivals Real Madrid have joined the prosecution in the lawsuit as a\u200b damaged\u2064 party.<\/p>\n<p>According to Judge Aguirre, Negreira was responsible for ranking and evaluating the referees. However, as of early September, no evidence has been found of Negreira paying referees\u2063 to influence \u2064match results.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the specific allegations of bribery against Barcelona and how does \u2062it impact the club&#8217;s reputation and future?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  St minors, match-fixing, and now, suspected bribery. \u2064The investigation into\u200d Barcelona&#8217;s involvement in\u200c this scandal raises serious \u200dconcerns \u200babout the integrity of \u2062the sport and \u2063calls \u2063into\u200b question\u200b the \u200cethics and\u200d values of one\u200d of the most prestigious soccer clubs in the world.<\/p>\n<p>The court document, obtained by Reuters, reveals that Barcelona is \u2062being investigated for\u2063 suspected &#8220;active\u200d bribery&#8221; as\u200b part of a wider probe \u2063into corruption within the refereeing\u200b committee, which has allegedly persisted for \u2064the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyt-wsj-wapo-publishers-urge-biden-to-protect-afghan-colleagues-in-kabul-stand-behind-the-free-press\/\" title=\"NYT, WSJ, WaPo Publishers Urge Biden To Protect Afghan Colleagues In Kabul: \u2018Stand Behind The Free Press\u2019\">past twenty years<\/a>. This \u2062revelation is likely to\u2062 shock football fans around the globe,\u200b as Barcelona has long \u200bbeen regarded as a \u2064symbol \u2062of excellence\u200b and fair play.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to\u2063 the investigation \u200cinto \u2062Barcelona, \u2062police have also conducted searches at the offices of the Spanish refereeing\u2063 committee,\u200c located within the \u2062football federation \u200cheadquarters in Madrid. This demonstrates the\u200b seriousness of\u2062 the ongoing inquiry and the determination of the authorities to\u2063 root out corruption within \u200bthe sport.<\/p>\n<p>These allegations\u200b of bribery\u2063 and \u2062corruption\u200d come at\u200c a time\u2064 when Spanish football, particularly the RFEF,\u2064 is\u200b already under \u2063scrutiny for other misconducts, including allegations \u200dof sexual abuse\u200c against minors and match-fixing. The\u2063 cumulative effect of these scandals is tarnishing the reputation of Spanish soccer and raising questions about the effectiveness of\u2063 the \u2063sport&#8217;s governing bodies \u200din ensuring fair \u200cplay and the protection of players&#8217; rights.<\/p>\n<p>If proven \u2064true, \u200bthe involvement of Barcelona in this bribery\u200c scandal would be\u200b a significant blow to \u200cthe\u200b club&#8217;s reputation and could have\u200b severe consequences for its future. The club \u2064may face sanctions, both domestically and internationally, which could include \u2064fines, \u2062points deductions, \u200dor even expulsion from\u2063 competitions. Moreover, \u2064the trust \u200dand \u2063confidence of the fans, sponsors, and\u200b other stakeholders may be irreparably \u2063damaged.<\/p>\n<p>It is imperative that a thorough and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/barcelona-under-investigation-for-suspected-bribery-in-refereeing-case\/\" title=\"Barcelona investigated for alleged referee bribery.\">transparent investigation takes\u200c place<\/a> to determine the extent of Barcelona&#8217;s involvement in this scandal. The authorities must be relentless in their \u2064pursuit of truth\u2062 and justice, sending a clear message\u2064 that corruption will not be tolerated in the world of soccer.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, this investigation should serve as a wake-up call \u200bfor the sport&#8217;s governing bodies to \u2063reevaluate their systems and processes \u200dto\u2064 prevent and detect corruption effectively. The\u2062 integrity of soccer\u200b is at stake, and it\u200c is vital that immediate steps are taken to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-justice-department-nominee-faces-ethics-minefield-from-fathers-corporate-interests\/\" title=\"Biden Justice Department Nominee Faces Ethics Minefield From Father\u2019s Corporate Interests\">restore public trust<\/a> and ensure that the sport remains a fair \u2063and honest competition.<\/p>\n<p>In the face of these serious allegations, \u200dit is essential to \u200bremember that Barcelona is just one club within\u2063 a global soccer community. While the \u200dfocus is currently on \u2062this \u2064investigation, it is\u200d crucial that the broader issue of corruption within the \u2064sport is addressed comprehensively. The\u200b involvement of a \u2063high-profile\u200c club like Barcelona should \u2063serve \u200bas a catalyst for meaningful \u2063change, sparking a renewed commitment\u200b to integrity and fair play in soccer.<\/p>\n<p>As the investigation\u200d into Barcelona&#8217;s\u2062 suspected bribery unfolds, the world \u2062will be watching closely. The \u200coutcome will have significant implications not only for the club but also for the entire soccer community. It is a \u200ccritical moment for the sport to demonstrate\u200d its \u2062commitment to transparency, accountability, and the principles upon which it was built. Only through decisive and swift action can soccer restore \u2064its integrity\u200d and protect its reputation as\u2063 the beautiful game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Barcelona soccer club faces investigation for alleged &#8220;active bribery&#8221; in a corruption probe involving the refereeing committee spanning two decades. Police have conducted searches at the club&#8217;s offices. (55 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1911,"featured_media":2049557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[542],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2049556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oann"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1911"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2049556"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2049556\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2049557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2049556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2049556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2049556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}