Explained: Why UEFA cannot act against Barcelona on Negreira case despite Real Madrid's optimism | Barca Universal

"The core issue is the statute of limitations. The alleged payments at the centre of the Negreira case ran from 2001 to 2018, with the case only becoming public knowledge in 2023 when Cadena SER broke the story. By that point, the window for any disciplinary action had already closed."

"Article 9 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code is explicit on this point. Very serious infractions are subject to a three-year statute of limitations, beginning from the day after the infringement was committed. Since the last alleged payments were made in 2018 and the case did not emerge publicly until 2023, the limitation period had already expired before any formal process could be initiated."

"The same principle applies at the UEFA level. Despite Real Madrid's optimism surrounding Article 4 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations, the European body's own rules are subject to the same statute of limitations framework, meaning UEFA's hands are effectively tied. In Spain, neither the CSD nor the RFEF have been able to act for the same reason."

"UEFA, despite not being bound by national court decisions, cannot bypass the expiry of the disciplinary window."

Alleged payments in the Negreira case span from 2001 to 2018, but the matter became public in 2023 after it was reported by Cadena SER. The RFEF Disciplinary Code sets a three-year statute of limitations for very serious infractions, starting the day after the infringement is committed. Because the last alleged payments occurred in 2018 and no public disclosure occurred until 2023, the limitation period had already expired before any formal disciplinary process could begin. The same statute of limitations framework applies at UEFA level, so UEFA cannot sanction Barcelona despite reliance on disciplinary regulation nuances. Spanish bodies such as the CSD and RFEF also cannot act for the same reason, and UEFA cannot bypass the expired disciplinary window even without being bound by national court decisions.

Read at Barca Universal