LALIGA SANTANDER
Negreira’s referee reports revealed for which FC Barcelona paid €7.3 million
Libertad Digital were given access to various reports seized in a search at Josep Contreras’ address, who died in December.
FC Barcelona paid €7.3 million for at least 17 years to Enríquez Negreira (from 2001 to 2018) for ‘shoddy’ reports; this is what the information revealed by Libertad Digital has shown. The company has had access to various reports in which the superficial analysis is the most striking aspect, as well as the spelling and grammatical mistakes.
Said reports have appeared in a sweep of the house of an ex-member of the Barça sporting commission, Josep Contreras, who died in December of 2022. Contreras directed a commission of the payments from Barça to Negreira’s son for the referee reports through the company Tresep.
- More detail: Barça’s most likely punishment for the Negreira case
In the documents published, the lack of a thorough analysis (just 2-3 pages) is clear, with a poor quality of writing and a confusing level of usability. For these reports, Negreira pocketed €400,000 a year.
One of the reports revealed is that of Ignacio Iglesias Vilanueva, a current VAR referee. It concerns the meeting between FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca on the 11 November 2012. In the document, the referee and his assistants are analysed, with specific data regarding the games refereed with FC Barcelona and their opponent, followed by the following section ‘personal profile’:
“Physically very well prepared, he follow the game closely and arrives at the areas easily, which allows him to almost always make the correct decision in quick plays. He is more doubtful in terms of shirt pulling at corners, which is something that happens to everyone.”
- Go further: What did Real Madrid do regarding the case?
Nacho (Iglesias Villanueva) is a very technical and disciplined referee, which leads him to always caution in terms of the rule book (handballs, elbows, tackles from behind, not allowing quick free-kicks, etc.)
He is one of the few referees who has changed his mind regarding a throw-in, as he gave it too early. Given his level of calmness and honesty, he will caution or send off all the players who deserve it. He is brave and normally takes decisions very convincingly, which is why he always cautions with fairness.
He doesn’t have a huge personality or level of charisma, but his security and his prudence allows him to have efficient games. He has a high level of confidence in himself which is positive, but in turn, he does not defend the decisions of his assistants as if they were his own. He will listen regarding fouls but not yellow cards.
When the assistants are not being listened to, they tend to restrict their contribution to the referee, which is why it may seem easy for them to not participate if they are not very convinced regarding their own decision. Over what we have seen this season, with regards to the offsides, the assistant number 2 is correct more often than the referee on the bench.
He will not hesitate to stop play if a goalkeeper is injured or a player that is offside. He transmits calmness but as and when is needed he can take control, he shows a strong personality and is very decisive in making the players keep quiet.
He does not like diving, although he will not risk cautioning a player is he is convinced that the intention was not to trick the referee. He is reasonable can be spoken to him in a polite way. He does not allow protests when they are unjustified or a lack of respect (with bad gestures). He takes decisions with a lot of security, with a high level of confidence in himself.
It must be taken into account that next week the referees in both the first and second division have a TECHNICAL MEETING in Madrid and will analyse their performances, which normally means they show themselves to be strict with the demands of the Committee. As always happens, they will work to become unseen.”
LaLiga Santander 2022/2023
| Classification | PTS | WM | TM | LM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Barcelona | 65 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 2Real Madrid | 56 | 17 | 5 | 3 |
| 3Atlético de Madrid | 48 | 14 | 6 | 5 |
*Data updated to date Mar 15th, 2023