La Liga president Javier Tebas has accused Real Madrid of keeping the Negreira investigation alive to undermine Barcelona, arguing that the Spanish giants adopted a more aggressive position after their Catalan rivals withdrew from the European Super League project.

According to a report by Barca Universal on Monday, November 2, 2026, Tebas criticised Madrid’s continued involvement in the controversy, suggesting their approach was influenced by disagreements surrounding the proposed breakaway competition rather than solely by concerns about the allegations.

The investigation centres on payments Barcelona made to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, a former vice-president of Spain’s Referees’ Technical Committee. Spanish courts are examining the circumstances surrounding the payments. However, sporting corruption by Barcelona has not been established, and the matter remains subject to the judicial process.

Speaking about the dispute, Tebas accused Madrid of unnecessarily extending public attention surrounding the case. He claimed the club had repeatedly raised the issue in ways that damaged Barcelona’s reputation.

“They are stretching the Negreira case like chewing gum,” Tebas said. He also mocked what he regarded as Madrid’s interpretation of the controversy, suggesting the club behaved as though Negreira had been present in every refereeing dressing room at every stadium where it played.

Tebas further argued that La Liga had taken action by contacting prosecutors about the matter before Real Madrid became involved. He used that point to challenge the impression that Madrid had been the leading organisation pushing for an investigation.

The league president also referred to Florentino Perez’s involvement in the Super League project. According to Tebas, the Real Madrid president remained on the competition’s board for approximately six months after the allegations surrounding Negreira emerged.

During that period, Tebas claimed, Perez had defended Barcelona because both clubs were working together within the project. He suggested Madrid’s attitude became considerably different after Barcelona decided to withdraw, creating a dispute that extended beyond the original investigation.

Tebas described the continued criticism directed at Barcelona as unacceptable, maintaining that the club should face consequences only if the judicial process establishes wrongdoing. He also accused Madrid of attempting to prolong the proceedings and keep the controversy prominent.

The La Liga chief additionally rejected attempts to compare Barcelona’s situation with the legal challenges facing Manchester City in England. He insisted that the two cases involve separate circumstances and should not be treated as equivalent.

His comments reinforce the growing disagreement between the leadership of Spanish football’s governing league and Real Madrid over the handling of the Negreira controversy. While Madrid have continued to question Barcelona’s conduct, Tebas maintains that the allegations must be assessed through the appropriate legal process.

Ultimately, the investigation remains a matter for Spain’s judiciary. Until the courts reach conclusions, the competing accusations from both sides remain part of an ongoing dispute rather than established findings of wrongdoing.