Mourinho compares the Negreira case with Calciopoli and deplores the lack of consequences

José Mourinho compared the Negreira case with Calciopoli, arguing that a lack of consequences would make the Spanish affair exceptional. “If nothing happens, it may be the biggest refereeing corruption scandal in the world,” he said. The Real Madrid coach was speaking to Prime Video Italia before the match against Roma. In his view, Italian justice acted firmly over the 2006 scandal, while the Spanish case has so far brought no consequences.

Mourinho praised Italy’s handling of Calciopoli: “I’ll tell you just one thing: congratulations to the Italians. Do you know why? Because it is the only country where Calciopoli has been Calciopoli.” Turning to Spain, he added: “So far, nothing has happened. Nothing has happened.” Asked whether he expected the case to go further, he reiterated his view and urged his interviewer to watch “the first minute of the Villarreal match.”

Calciopoli, exposed in 2006, involved the manipulation of refereeing appointments in a way that distorted the competition. Luciano Moggi, then Juventus general manager, was its leading figure. Juventus were relegated to Serie B, stripped of the 2005 and 2006 Scudetti and docked points; Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina also received sanctions. Moggi was also convicted in the ordinary courts.

The comparison echoes Real Madrid’s position: the club believes that payments from FC Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice-president of the refereeing committee, have not received the response in Spain that a comparable scandal deserved, in its view. Madrid remains hopeful that UEFA will act where, in the club’s opinion, national justice has not.