Pique downplays Negreira case by saying Barcelona were ‘far better’ than the competition

Gerard Pique has downplayed the corruption allegations against Barcelona, stating that the club was far better than any other team during its golden era

Barcelona has been accused of making several payments to Enriquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018 when he was the vice-president of the referees’ committee in Spain.

The payments have raised suspicions of rival clubs, who believe that Barcelona used them to gain favor from match officials during their period of unprecedented success, which saw them win domestic and Champions League titles.

Pique claims Barcelona were simply better than other teams

Legendary Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, who played for Barcelona from 2008 to 2022, is not taking the corruption allegations made against the club seriously. He told RAC1 that Barcelona was so dominant that they didn’t need any external help.

He has 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. There is no logic to it. We are used to conspiracies and campaigns from here on.

“We were far, far superior. We didn’t depend on the referees“

Pique

“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.”

Barca has said from the start that the payments were made to Negreira for reports on youth players and referee behavior

Pique added: “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.”

Barcelona plan to defend themselves in court against the corruption accusations. Their bitter rivals Real Madrid have also joined the case. The two teams will face each other in a match at Camp Nou on Sunday. Barcelona currently hold a nine-point lead at the top of La Liga.