Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, assured in a statement issued on the employer's social networks that "it is not possible that there are sports disciplinary sanctions" against Barcelona, because they have already prescribed the possible infractions committed for paying 1.4 million euros to the former referee José María Enríquez Negreira between 2016 and 2018, while he was vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees
The president of the employers' association pointed out that after the information uncovered by Cadena SER and the statements by former referee Andújar Oliver who assured on 'Onda Cero' that the son of Enriquez Negreira called the referees to take them to the Camp Nou before important games, "The 'compliance' rules, which control the interests of both Barcelona and the National Committee of Referees, did not work, because these services should not have been provided."
However, regarding the possibility of sports sanctions, the top leader of LaLiga stated: "It is not possible that there are sports disciplinary sanctions, because from 18 to 23 five years have passed and this type of sanction prescribes three years from the date they were issued. produced the facts".
“Another thing is in the field of criminal jurisdiction that the Prosecutor's Office is now investigating the facts to see if there may be a possible crime of corruption between individuals in the version of fixing in the sports field. From LaLiga we are going to wait and respect the investigation and if the Prosecutor's Office decides to file the appropriate complaint or lawsuit, we will have to appear as a private prosecution," Tebas added. "If there is no complaint, the matter will be archived," he continued.
After explaining LaLiga's position, Tebas said that they were going to ask their members of the Arbitration Committee to see if the person who appointed the referees "had any interference or Mr. Negreira intervened in any designation." In a final reflection, Tebas emphasized that "both aesthetically and ethically these things cannot happen in Spanish football."
