FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta Faces Severe Legal Scandal - Shocking Court Documents Reveal

FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta is under investigation as a "suspect" in the ongoing alleged improper payment scandal, according to court documents obtained by CNN. This latest development adds another layer to the scandal that has been casting a shadow over both the club and Spanish soccer. The investigation focuses on allegations of Barça making improper payments to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former top referee in Spain.

In late September, Enríquez Negreira, his son Javier, FC Barcelona, and several former executives of the soccer club were named as suspects for "the sustained crime of active bribery" by Judge Joaquín Aguirre López. This marks the first time Barça president, Laporta, has been officially implicated in the ongoing scandal. Aguirre López is still considering whether charges are warranted against the suspects.

CNN has contacted FC Barcelona to request a comment from Laporta, but has not received a response yet. The club has acknowledged the judge's decision regarding Laporta and mentioned that their legal team is currently working on a response. Back in September, a source from FC Barcelona informed CNN that the club does not have an official statement on the investigation. However, they stated that their lawyers have examined all possible legal outcomes, including the potential implication of the club, and are actively progressing based on that assessment.

Earlier this year, prosecutors filed a formal complaint in a Barcelona court, alleging that the club engaged in "sustained corruption among individuals in the sports sector" in what is known as the "Caso Negreira" or "the Negreira case" in Spanish football.

However, in September, Judge Aguirre López stated that the actions of Negreira, Barça, and the other suspects were not just instances of ongoing corruption but rather acts of bribery. According to prosecutors, multiple current and former club officials were aware of payments amounting to over €7 million (nearly $7.4 million) invoiced to two companies established by Negreira, who held the position of CTA vice president from 1993 to 2018. These payments were made on behalf of Barcelona and directly benefited the club.

The CTA is the regulatory authority accountable for determining the referees and assistants who officiate league and national competitive matches in Spain.

As per the official complaint filed by the prosecutors in March of this year, the club has been accused of engaging in a "strictly confidential verbal agreement" with Negreira, aiming to generate "refereeing decisions inclined towards favoring Barcelona."

Barcelona announced in February that they were conducting a comprehensive and unbiased investigation. In March, a reliable source from the club firmly denied allegations of referee bribery or attempts to influence refereeing decisions to CNN.

When questioned about the ongoing investigation in September, Xavi, the head coach of Barcelona, commented: "My stance on the Caso Negreira is already well-known. There will be another development about Negreira next week, followed by another one in 15 days, and yet another one in a month and a half."

Xavi looks on prior to the LaLiga match between Osasuna and Barcelona at Estadio El Sadar on September 3.

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

He added: "I have never had the feeling, never, and I repeat it, that the referees have benefitted us. Never."

In Wednesday's court document, the focus was primarily on determining the expiration date of the statute of limitations for the alleged crimes, with the aim of investigating other individuals involved.

Aguirre López referred to article 131 of Spain's Penal Code to extend the statute of limitations for the alleged crimes to 10 years from the last known illicit payment - July 17, 2018. This extension would mean that the punishable period would now include July 2008, coinciding with Laporta's first tenure as FC Barcelona president, which lasted from June 15, 2003, to June 15, 2010. Laporta began his second term as club president in 2021.

The court document read on Wednesday stated that the statute of limitations for the mentioned crimes has not expired for [Laporta] and the individuals who served on the Board of Directors of FC Barcelona during his leadership. It is decided to extend the status of being a suspect for these crimes to [Laporta] and all the individuals who were members of the Board of Directors during his tenure, or were part of the club's organizational structure and had a significant role in making decisions regarding the alleged illicit payments to the suspects.

The court document stated that FC Barcelona's payments had the desired effect on refereeing, resulting in unequal treatment compared to other teams and systemic corruption within the Spanish refereeing group. Furthermore, the court deduced that although not all referees were corrupt, there was a group of them who were involved.

CNN has reached out on multiple occasions to Negreira via his company for comment but did not receive a response.

Pau Mosquera contributed to this report.