BARCELONA, October 18, 2023 — Barcelona’s President, Joan Laporta, is now facing charges as part of the ongoing investigations into alleged bribes paid to referees, a Spanish court revealed on Wednesday.
This latest development comes after the club itself and two former presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, were previously charged. Additionally, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former head of Spain’s referee’s body, and his son have also been implicated in the probe.
Joan Laporta’s charges are linked to his initial tenure as president of Barcelona, spanning from 2003 to 2010.
In a report released on Wednesday, the presiding judge leading the investigation emphasized that Laporta could not be shielded by the statute of limitations due to the gravity of the allegations.
Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira is alleged to have earned over seven million euros (approximately $7.5 million) from Barcelona between 2001 and 2018 through companies purportedly responsible for producing refereeing reports for the club.
Barcelona, a 27-time Spanish champion, has been grappling with these accusations for several months and continues to vehemently deny any involvement in wrongdoing.
This ongoing case is sure to draw significant attention in the sports world and legal circles as it unfolds. Stay tuned for further updates on this matter.