According to reports, the judge continues investigations into Barcelona’s payments to José María Enríquez Negreira, former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees. Testimonies from the accused, including former Barcelona presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, are scheduled for September 18. This date falls outside the six-month extension granted by Judge Alejandra Gil in February.

Initially, the judge of Barcelona’s Court No. 13 planned to hear testimonies on June 17 and 30, but these sessions were canceled upon request from one of the defense lawyers. Six defendants, including Negreira’s wife and son, as well as two former Barcelona executives, will testify in September.

This delay may benefit defense lawyers, who argue that the extension was unjustified and could lead to the case being dismissed. Miguel Capoz, the lawyer of Albert Soler, former Barcelona sporting director, supported by the club’s legal team, has filed a petition with the Barcelona Court of Appeal to revoke the recent extension, claiming no judicial action was taken during the previous period.

So far, only Negreira has appeared in court, invoking his right to remain silent. He previously attempted to be excluded from the case, citing dementia. The former judge, Joaquín Aguirre, who handled the case until January 2024, intended to summon the accused but retired without setting a date. The new judge extended the investigation by six months, citing the need for further testimonies and potential additional inquiries, such as financial tracking or witness statements.