Real Madrid’s Negreira case challenge dismissed as ‘time-barred’, says Spanish official

Miguel Galan, president of Spain’s National Centre for Football Coaches Training, has played down the significance of UEFA receiving documents submitted by Real Madrid in the Negreira case, saying the move does not mean the investigation has been reopened.

Real Madrid sent UEFA a dossier of about 500 pages and called in a statement for the disciplinary proceedings previously initiated by European football’s governing body to be reactivated immediately.

However, Galan said UEFA had only confirmed receipt of the material. He added that its inspectors would assess the documents as part of the investigation already under way, with no new charge announced and no decision taken on the substance of the case.

The official’s comments were reported by Spanish newspaper Sport.

Galan said Barcelona had itself emphasised that UEFA’s investigation began in 2023 and had never been formally closed. On that basis, he argued that Real Madrid’s submission did not represent a reopening or reactivation of the proceedings.

His assessment focuses on the legal time limits applying to disciplinary cases.

In Spain, Galan pointed to Article 80 of Law 10/1990, which set a three-year limitation period for very serious offences. He therefore believes the case has become time-barred in relation to events covered by that legislation.

Galan also considered the position at European level. He said that “there has been no proof of match-fixing, fraud, bribery or corruption”, meaning the exception that removes those offences from limitation rules under UEFA’s disciplinary regulations could not be applied.

As a result, he said the general five-year limitation period should apply. In his view, that period had expired without valid procedural action being taken to interrupt it, meaning the disciplinary case was also time-barred under UEFA rules.

“Simply receiving the documents does not prove any of those acts and, in itself, does not allow the limitation period to be overridden,” Galan said.

“Therefore, the proceedings must be declared concluded when that is required.”

Real Madrid’s demand followed its submission of the extensive dossier, but UEFA’s response, as described by Galan, amounted only to an acknowledgement that the documents had been received and would be reviewed within the existing investigation. No fresh accusation or ruling on the central issues has been announced.