Barcelona could be relegated over charges of corruption after alleged ref payments
Barcelona have been warned they could be relegated or stripped of titles over charges of corruption.
Last Friday (March 10) the La Liga giants learned a complaint had been filed against them and two of the club's ex-presidents by Spanish prosecutors after they were alleged to have paid over €7.3million (£6.4m) to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira – an ex-vice-president of Spain's referees' committee.
The payments are claimed to have been made between 2001 and 2018 to firms owned by the former senior official, who was in his role from 1993 to 2018, with the suggestion they were made to influence match results.
READ MORE: Daily Star's World Cup of Football S***houses: Vote for your winner in Group B
Barca, former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, and Negreira have been indicted for "corruption", "breach of trust" and "false business records".
And should they be found guilty, it could have massive ramifications. Joan Maria Xiol, president of the Catalan Sports Court, has said: "The possibility of a relegation may occur.
How do you think Barca should be punished? Let us know in the comments section below
Free £2 shop bet with William Hill every day of the Cheltenham Festival – plus all the fantastic daily coverage you need
Pick up your Daily Star every day of the festival for racing specials, day by day updates and free bet EVERY DAY.
Celebrate the biggest racing week of the year- the Cheltenham Festival. One of the most prestigious National Hunt Meetings of the calendar is not to be missed…and we’ve got a bumper week of amazing content and great reader offers. Find out more HERE.
"UEFA can judge events that have no international significance. If it has evidence of irregularities, it may have jurisdiction to act. Also on the list of sanctions is the possibility of losing titles."
Current club president Joan Laporta, who was elected for the second time in March 2021 having previously held the role from 2003-2010, has strenuously denied the allegations.
"Let it be clear, Barca have never bought referees and Barca have never had the intention of buying referees, absolutely never," he said on Tuesday (March 14).
He also claimed the club is the "victim of a campaign" to "harm its honourability" in a tweet at the weekend, vowing to clear their name.
READ NEXT:
-
Barcelona sensation Gavi suffers mid-match wardrobe malfunction as pants pulled down
-
Gerard Pique told Shakira's diss track is 'notable career highlight' after raunchy show
-
Barcelona starlet Gavi 'does a Phil Jones' with spectacular diving header tackle
-
Ex-Barcelona star's WAG wears nipple strap dress and almost has wardrobe malfunction
-
Nip slips and ripped pants – sport's worst wardrobe malfunctions as Gavi's bum exposed