Real Madrid have called an emergency board meeting for Sunday after Barcelona were charged with corruption.

The Catalan club were charged this weekover payments made to the vice-president of Spanish footballs refereeing committee.

Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, who held the role between 1994 and 2018, is also facing charges of corruption in a case brought by the Spanish public prosecutors office, as is Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barca president from 2014-2020, and Sandro Rosell, president from 2010-2014.

Real Madrid hadnt spoken publicly on the case with manager Carlo Ancelotti avoiding questions on the issue in recent weeks.

We must respect the times of justice and now we must wait for the conclusion of the investigations of the prosecutors office, director of institutional relations,Emilio Butragueno said after the draw with Atletico Madrid.

However, given the seriousness of accusations against Barcelona and the confirmation of charges, Florentino Perez has called a meeting this weekend to discuss his clubs options going forward.

A club statement read: Given the seriousness of the accusations made by the Barcelona Prosecutors Office against FC Barcelona and two of its presidents for well-founded suspicions of corruption and their relations with whoever was the vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees, Jos Mara Enrquez Negreira, the president has convened urgently to the Board of Directors tomorrow, Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 12:00 p.m., in order to decide on the actions that Real Madrid deems appropriate in relation to this matter.

Enriquez Negreira has denied ever favouring Barcelona in terms of refereeing decisions.

Barca say they hired an external consultant who provided reports related to professional refereeing and, like Enriquez Negreira, also deny any wrongdoing.

Barcelona charged with corruption over payments to former referees chief

(Photo: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

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