2 former Barcelona coaches testify in court regarding Negreira case

Two of Barcelona's former coaches from the past two decades, Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde, have testified in court in relation to the Negreira case, refuting the allegations that Barcelona received illegal referee reports. 

Luis Enrique coached Barcelona for three seasons, from July 2014 to June 2017, and Ernesto Valverde took over from May 2017 to January 2020.

The Blaugrana stand accused of payments they made to the former vice president of RFEF's refereeing committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, between 2001 and 2018. Given that both managers held roles at the club during that period, they were required to testify in court. 

Both managers testified via a video transmission. “Neither I nor anyone on my staff were offered referee reports,” Valverde said, “but neither were they necessary.”

Enrique’s testimony was similar. “Neither in my first spell at the affiliate side nor later with the senior team did they offer us reports on referees," the PSG manager said, via Football Espana. 

Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta, has also testified, as the club and affiliates continue to deny currying undue influence through the payments made to Negreira. 

Meanwhile, Enrique and Valverde faced off recently, as Athletic Club and Paris Saint-Germain locked horns this week. The game ended in a draw, with both sides sharing the spoils at San Mames.