![\"Real](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/128963070_madrid-696x392.jpg\" "\\"Real")
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Real Madrid say they will support the corruption charges faced by Barcelona over money paid to the vice president of Spain\u2019s referees\u2019 committee.<\/p>\n
Real are prepared to \u201cdefend their interests\u201d when proceedings are opened.<\/p>\n
On Friday,\u00a0a court heard Barcelona have been indicted\u00a0for \u201ccorruption\u201d, \u201cbreach of trust\u201d and \u201cfalse business records\u201d.<\/p>\n
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Prosecutors allege Barca paid 8.4m euros (\u00a37.4m) to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira and his company in return for favourable refereeing decisions.<\/p>\n
Barcelona, who deny any wrongdoing, acknowledged the payments were made to Dasnil 95 between 2001 and 2018.<\/p>\n
The Catalan club described the company as \u201can external technical consultant\u201d which was paid to compile video reports related to professional referees \u201cwith the aim of complementing the information required by the coaching staff\u201d.<\/p>\n
Former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, as well as Negreira, have also been indicted alongside the club.<\/p>\n
The lawsuits were brought by the Barcelona public prosecutor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u201cFC Barcelona obtained and maintained a strictly confidential verbal agreement with Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira so that, in his capacity as vice-president of the technical arbitral committee (CTA) and in exchange for money, the latter carries out actions tending to benefit FC Barcelona in decisions by the referees,\u201d prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
A senior Barcelona official said the club had expected the prosecutors\u2019 complaint and described it as \u201cnothing more than an absolutely preliminary investigative hypothesis\u201d.<\/p>\n
Real Madrid held a board meeting on Sunday to discuss the issue, outlining their position after having \u201cinspected the serious accusations\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cReal Madrid wishes to express its utmost concern regarding the gravity of the facts and reiterates its confidence in the legal system,\u201d said the reigning Spanish champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe club has agreed that, in defence of its legitimate rights, it will appear at the trial when the judge opens it up to the affected parties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barcelona president Joan Laporta responded by insisting the club is the \u201cvictim of a campaign\u201d to \u201charm its honourability\u201d, urging fans to remain \u201ccalm\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is no surprise and we will defend Barca and prove that the club is innocent,\u201d\u00a0he tweeted.<\/p>\n
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