Real Madrid has spoken out about the Negreira case, also known as BarçaGate, stating that there are indications of sports corruption of an unusual gravity and scope. A leaked report suggests that Real Madrid’s client could have been affected by the alleged corruption. Madrid refutes the claims that the cause is based on lucubrations and hypotheses not based on objective data, and that there is no concrete evidence pointing to the fact that F.C. Barcelona has engaged in corrupt refereeing behavior. Real Madrid maintains that the evidence available today is overwhelming and prevents them from alleging that no club was harmed by the facts denounced. Madrid has submitted a 29-page brief of allegations to the Provincial Court of Barcelona, requesting the dismissal of the appeal filed by Barcelona against its appearance as a private prosecutor in the proceedings. The pleadings state that the crime of sports corruption is a crime of mere activity that protects legal assets of which Real Madrid is the owner. It is irrelevant whether or not Real Madrid suffered an economic or sporting damage. Madrid believes that the interest in the purity of the competition is an interest worthy of protection that goes beyond the interest of society in general.
