Barcelona has been charged with alleged bribery for payments worth over €7 million, made to companies linked with former vice president of the refereeing committee, José María Enríquez Negreira.
This was confirmed by judicial sources to Spanish news agency, EFE.
Former Barça presidents, Josep María Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell also stand accused of the same charges, as do Negreira and his son, Javier Enríquez Romero.
Barça had previously been charged with alleged corruption in sports, corruption in business, false administration and the falsification of commercial documents.
Police also searched the referees’ office at the Royal Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] in Madrid on Thursday, to retrieve documentation in relation to the case.
A complaint was lodged by prosecutors in March against Barça, their former presidents and the Negreira in March
These bribery charges could now speed up a process that has been ongoing since February when the payments were first revealed.