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Madrid, March 23 (Ians) UEFA, the governing body of European football, confirmed on Thursday that they are to investigate payment made by Fc Barcelona to a former vice-president of the Spanish referees’ technical committee.

Barca are alleged to have paid around 7.5 million euros to a company owned by Jose Maria Negreira between 2001 and 2018, while Negreira was vice president of the committee. This committee oversees the performances of referees in Spain.

UEFA explained on Thursday that they would be looking at the case, saying “ethics and disciplinary inspectors have been appointed to conduct an investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework by Fc Barcelona in connection with the so-called ‘Caso Negreira’.”

Prosecutors in Spain last week indicted the club and former presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell for “corruption,” “breach of trust” and “false business records,” over the affair, while the club insists the payments were made for...

Madrid (Spain), March 11 (Ians) Fc Barcelona face a difficult visit to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night a week ahead of the El Clasico clash against Real Madrid.

If Real Madrid beat Espanyol in this week’s encounter, Barca will kick off with a six-point lead over their rivals and a win in the San Mames Stadium would see that gap extended to nine points ahead of the meeting with their title rivals. Any other result would see Madrid go to Barcelona with a chance of moving within touching distance at the top.

Xavi Hernandez’s side are boosted by the return of Robert Lewandowski after a muscle injury that has sidelined him for two weeks, while Gavi is back to provide bite in midfield after his suspension, reports Xinhua.

However, Ronald Araujo misses out through suspension after being sent off last weekend against Valencia, while Pedri and Ousmane Dembele are still injured.

Madrid, Oct 28 (Ians) Spanish prosecutors have dropped all fraud and corruption charges against Brazil forward Neymar Jr in a trial over his 2013 transfer from Santos to Barcelona, the public prosecutor told a court on Friday.

Prosecutors had initially sought a two-year jail term and a 10 million euro (£8.6m) fine for the 30-year-old footballer. But they have now announced the withdrawal of charges “against all the accused for all the allegations” they had faced.

The other defendants in the case included Neymar’s parents, the two clubs, former Barcelona presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, and former Santos president Odilio Rodrigues.

Last week, Neymar Jr told a court on Tuesday he did not participate in negotiations over his transfer to “childhood dream” club Barcelona from Santos nine years ago, but had signed what his father had told him to, a Sky Sports report said.

“I didn’t participate in the negotiations.

Madrid, May 25 (Ians) Luis Suarez has slammed Ronald Koeman for lacking personality and also hit out at former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu after winning La Liga with Atletico Madrid.

The 34-year-old striker was controversially allowed to leave Barca for domestic rivals Atletico after six successful seasons at Camp Nou.

Suarez responded by firing in 21 goals in 32 league matches for Atletico, including two in their final two matches in priceless wins against Osasuna and Real Valladolid, reports Dpa.

The Uruguay forward has regularly discussed how hurt he was by his Barca departure and looked at it from a fresh angle after showing his emotion when Atletico got over the line to claim league glory.

"I will always be grateful to Barcelona and I'm never going to go against Barcelona, they have given me everything and allowed me to get to the elite," Suarez said.

"But obviously the president [Bartomeu] said everything...

Barcelona, Jan 31 (Ians) Lionel Messi's contract with Barcelona is worth up to 555 million euros ($673 million) over four seasons, thus making his deal as the biggest signed by any athlete in sports history, says a report.

According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Messi would receive a maximum of 55,52,37,619 euros over four seasons, if a series of conditions were met.

The Spanish daily said it had access to the document Messi signed with Barcelona in 2017, which included fixed incomes and variables that could reach nearly 138 million euros ($167 million) each season.

Messi's 30-page contract, accessed by the newspaper, included a signing-on bonus of 11,52,25,000 euros for accepting the renewal and a "loyalty" bonus of 7,79,29,955 euros.

According to the newspaper, Messi has already earned 51,15,40,545 euros with five months still left to run on the deal which comes to an end this June.

The 33-year-old has been with the Catalan club for nearly two decades...

Atletico Madrid said that La Liga champions Fc Barcelona were being less than honest about their bid to persuade French striker Antoine Griezmann to abandon the Colchoneros for the Catalan club.

Atletico management was quick to respond to statements by Fc Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who said that his club's first contact with the 2018 World Cup champion was this week, according to Efe news.

Bartomeu also discussed a meeting on Thursday between the clubs' respective general managers to discuss a possible deal for Griezmann.

"Yesterday (Thursday), we had a meeting," Bartomeu said on Friday. "Oscar Grau, our general manager, met with Miguel Angel Gil in Madrid and we began to ask him if it was possible that this can happen. There is an interest, that's why we got together."

In a statement, Atletico said that Griezmann informed Gil and coach Diego Simeone on May 14 that he would be leaving...