FC Barcelona has been formally charged with ongoing corruption in business, involving alleged fraudulent activity linked to the notorious Negreira case. The charges mark a major escalation in the long-running investigation into the Catalan club’s financial dealings with former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

The judicial decision, announced by the presiding judge of Barcelona’s Court No. 1, represents a turning point in the case. According to court documents, Barcelona is accused of paying nearly €7.2 million over almost two decades to Negreira, who served as vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA). Unless the club can provide a legitimate explanation for these payments, the consequences could be severe — both financially and reputationally.

In addition to the charges against the club itself, the court order calls for a series of key testimonies. Former president Joan Gaspart has been summoned to appear in early February to testify about payments made during his tenure between 2000 and 2003.

The court agenda also includes hearings scheduled for November 25, involving current club president Joan Laporta — who previously led the club from 2003 to 2010 — as well as former managers Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde. Prosecutors are seeking clarification from Laporta regarding alleged payments made to shell companies linked to Negreira. As for the two coaches, investigators aim to determine whether the referee reports provided by Negreira had any influence on the team’s sporting strategy during their respective periods in charge.