Xavi Denies Barcelona Receiving Referee Favoritism Amidst Scandal Probe

Xavi Denies Barcelona Receiving Referee Favoritism Amidst Scandal Probe

In a press conference preceding Barcelona's clash with Sevilla in La Liga, Barcelona's head coach, Xavi Hernandez, addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations of referee favoritism. Amidst the backdrop of a police raid at Spain's football refereeing headquarters, Xavi firmly asserted that Barcelona has "never felt favored by referees," specifically referencing the Negreira case.

The latest development in this scandal-ridden chapter of Spanish football saw law enforcement officials execute a search warrant on Thursday at the offices of the CTA referees' technical committee. This committee operates within the confines of the RFEF football federation headquarters, situated on the outskirts of Madrid. The raid was ordered by a judge who is overseeing the Negreira case, which revolves around purported payments made to a company owned by former high-ranking refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

With the spotlight firmly on the ongoing investigation, Xavi Hernandez faced questions from the media during the pre-match press conference. When asked about the recent reports, he responded, "I have never felt that we have been favored by the referees. I have little time, and I dedicate myself to other matters, not to reflecting on these issues," he told reporters, emphasizing his commitment to focusing on the game rather than external controversies.