Joan Laporta 'asks UEFA & FIFA' to delay punishment rulings over Negreira case

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reported to have written to both UEFA and FIFA with an explanation of the club’s previous relationship with former referee chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira in an attempt to avoid any immediate sanctions.

Payments made from Barcelona to a company owned by Negreira between 2016 and 2018 have prompted allegations of corruption and bribery towards the Blaugrana, who have defended their actions ever since the evidence was unearthed.

Spanish officials are investigating the payments as a matter which goes beyond football, but the governing bodies of the sport have both voiced their concern over the payments and have begun their own investigation.

Reports have even suggested that UEFA are fast-tracking their process in an attempt to ensure any punishment handed out will take effect before next season gets underway – something Barcelona are keen to avoid.

Indeed, Catalunya Radio state that Laporta has personally written to both UEFA and FIFA with further explanations of the payments to try and avoid any sanctions.

Part of Laporta’s concerns stem from the fact that UEFA could sanction Barcelona even before the results of the legal investigation are revealed, and so the president has called for delays to allow the full story to be told.

Barcelona remain adamant that they will prove their innocence and will therefore not be subject to any sanctions.

A public press conference is expected to be held in the coming weeks in which Laporta will give an open explanation for the payments.