'We don't pay to influence!' - Ex-Barcelona president claims 'theories' have been 'quashed' after testifying in Negreira refereeing case

On Thursday, former Barcelona presidents Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, as well as Javier, Enriquez Negreira's son, among others, testified before Judge Alejandra Gil in Barcelona during the latest court hearing concerning the 'Negreira case'. Bartomeu spoke to the media after leaving the court and defended himself and Barca by claiming that they "didn't pay to influence, but for the reports."

The Catalan giants were embroiled in controversy after revelations surfaced that payments had been made between 2001 and 2018 to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spain's Technical Committee of Referees (CTA). Allegations suggested that these financial transfers were aimed at influencing refereeing decisions. 

However, officials from Barcelona have consistently argued that the funds were intended to secure technical reports and scouting information on both match officials and players. Club president Joan Laporta has presented documentation in defence of this claim, and despite the scandal, the Blaugrana were ultimately exonerated.

"Some of us who were involved in the club from 2013 to 2018 have given statements. It has become clear that many theories that have been floated in recent years have been quashed," Bartomeu told reporters outside the court. 

"It has been clarified that there were sports and refereeing advisory services, before and after matches, for both the first team and the reserve team, and that there was a financial compensation to be paid for them. It has also become clear that Enriquez Negreira's departure from the Federation has nothing to do with the end of his son's employment when he stopped working for Barca in the first quarter of 2018. Therefore, that theory that said one thing was a consequence of the other has also been dispelled.

"We don't pay to influence, we pay for reports. Therefore, we have said many times, and President Rosell did so today in his statement, that we had the best team in the world and we won titles on our own merits. From some quarters, they have tried to tarnish Barça. We have had great success with the best player in the world."

Javier Enriquez told the judge on Thursday that he was unaware of his father’s dealings with Barcelona. He described the relationship as "unethical." In his statement, which was obtained by El Espanol, Enriquez denied that the €7.5 million paid to his father between 2001 and 2018 was for the reports he produced, claiming he himself had received €60,000. Enriquez also admitted to providing referee analysis for Barca but denied any intention to influence match outcomes. 

"I've been waiting to testify with the person I was supposed to," said Enriquez. "It's done. What did I say? You'll see it in the case, which you often have quicker access to than I do. Should I defend the truth I know? Of course."