Gerard Pique, a former Barcelona defender and club legend has disputed the accusations made against the team following the Enriquez Negreira controversy.
Barcelona are reported to have paid Negreira’s company multiple times between 2001 and 2018, when he served as the Vice-President of the Referees’ Committee.
There have been claims that Barcelona was paying off referees to rule in their favor, despite the club’s adamant stance that these payments were made for reports on young footballers throughout Spain and referee behavior.
In fact, the Prosecutor’s office has charged the club, as well as two former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, with corruption for the same.
Amidst this, Pique has given his thoughts on the matter during an interview with RAC1, stating that he or none of the players were aware of any reports on referees.
What Pique Said
“We didn’t know that the club paid this man. The players, especially those of us who have been here for more years, already know about the referees, but it’s good for the coaches, especially those who come from outside, to have these reports.
“As a player, I don’t know if that’s what this man’s job was.”
The former defender, who turned 36 last month, then went on to state that he was confident Barcelona were not involved in buying off referees, as he said:
“I put my hand in the fire that Barça have not bought off referees. If you want to buy a referee, it’s as easy as giving him an envelope in black. You don’t go to a vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees.
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“There is no logic to it. We are used to conspiracies and campaigns from here on…”.
“As much as they want to tarnish it, it’s such a golden era… it’s no longer what we won but how it was won. They can review everything. We were far, far superior. We didn’t depend on the referees. I would pass over it and move on to the next.
“It’s true that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is involved, but I trust the club,” he said.
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