Estrada Fernández files a lawsuit against Enríquez Negreira and his son

The referee Xavier Estrada Fernández, who whistled matches of the highest Spanish and European level between 2009 and 2022, filed a criminal complaint against José María Enríquez Negreira and his son, Javier Enríquez Romero, in the Barcelona investigating court, this Friday.

According to the regional chain Esports3, Estrada denounces an alleged crime of corruption and sports fraud within the framework of the information that last week revealed that Enríquez Negreira, former vice president of the College of Referees, received a total of seven million euros from Barcelona between 2001 and 2018.

Estrada, who turned 47, no longer works as a field referee but acts as a VAR referee.

In the complaint brief, the soccer judge states that Enríquez Negreira, given his status as director of the refereeing college, "had or could have" influence over the refereeing college.

Regarding the son of the main defendant, Javier Enríquez, he points out that in his role as "sports coach" of numerous referees he could also influence him.

Estrada indicates that the denounced facts violate the "transparency of professional soccer" and the "integrity" that should guide the conduct of his union.

Estrada's complaint is also directed against the Dasnil company, recipient of the payments that Barcelona made to Enríquez Negreira.

According to Enríquez Negreira's statement before the Tax Agency that inquired about the invoices that Barça issued in his favor, the services consisted of "technical advice" of a "verbal" nature.

Federation sources close to the case indicate that the former vice president of the referees made reports on the referees designated to whistle the games that Barça would play.

The Barcelona Prosecutor's Office is investigating the case, with the difficulty of the fact that there is no documentary support that proves the existence of the alleged work carried out by Enríquez Negreira.

The League and all the First and Second clubs, except Madrid and Barcelona, ​​have condemned the activities of Enríquez Negreira and have expressed their desire that Justice get to the bottom of the matter and settle responsibilities in the event that crimes are proven.

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