Barcelona stands alone as soccer bribery scandal intensifies

Real Madrid—Barcelona's last Spanish ally in a bribery scandal rocking soccer—has aligned itself with the justice system and distanced itself from the famous Catalan club.

Barcelona is fighting a battle in Spanish courts because of its questionable relationship with former Spanish refereeing committee member Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

The club is accused of paying Negreira upwards of $7 million over several years for "technical advice," which, given Negreira's position on Spain's refereeing committee, increasingly looks like favorable calls.

While the Catalan club entered legal proceedings with support from its biggest rival, it appears the team will fight the rest of the battle alone. 

In an official statement, Real Madrid expressed its "utmost concern over the gravity of the facts" and agreed to appear in court if asked to do so.

Previously, 18 of 20 top-league Spanish clubs made a joint statement condemning Barcelona's Negreira payments and encouraging the Spanish courts to explore the case. Real Madrid's signature was glaringly absent from that statement, and the club's change of heart could have massive implications for Barcelona and European soccer.

For Barcelona, losing its "super club" ally cuts the team adrift from the rest of the Spanish league and opens it up to unflattering comparisons.

Barcelona previously argued that payments like the ones it made to Negreira were "very normal" for top clubs. With Real Madrid agreeing to appear in court if asked, it's likely that argument will fall apart. Like Barcelona, Real Madrid has a large global fanbase and similar European ambitions.

For European soccer, Real Madrid forsaking Barcelona could be the final nail in the Super League coffin. The two Spanish clubs were the loudest and most active supporters of the ill-fated league, and despite being bitter rivals at home, they've worked together to defend the concept. 

Real Madrid needs Barcelona's backing to push for a cross-European league of top clubs. By choosing the courts over Barcelona, it is burning that bridge—and potentially burning the last remnants of the Super League as well.

Barcelona remains adamant that the courts will exonerate it. 

"We did not buy referees, and we have never tried to," Barcelona president Joan Laporta said over the weekend, according to ESPN. "There is a campaign to damage the club. Nothing happens by chance."