Two former Barcelona coaches asked to testify against club in Negreira case

FC Barcelona have been rocked by allegations of corruption this year after investigations revealed that the club were involved in the Enriquez Negreira payoff scandal.

Barça had allegedly paid up to €7 million to the former vice-president of the referee’s committee for insights and even result manipulation. Following the investigation, there will be a legal proceedings against Barça, who could be set for serious sanctions if they are proven guilty.

Barcelona’s eternal rivals Real Madrid have already announced that they will stand as an accuser in the legal proceedings and have expressed their concern over the findings of the report.

According to El Pais, it appears there will be several others who will be asked to testify in the proceedings, including former Barcelona managers Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde.

As per the report, the two managers will be called to the proceedings so that they can explain whether they were in the knowhow of the Negreira scam.

Quite recently, Valverde, who was on the opposite end of Barcelona’s La Liga game against Athletic Club, denied any knowhow of the Negreira case, suggesting that the findings have left him shocked.

He has also denied the role of the payoffs behind Barça’s title triumph in 2017/18.

As the investigations revealed Barcelona’s involvement in the issue from 2001 to 2018, it is unlikely Valverde will be quizzed much.

Enrique, though, could be heavily involved in the proceedings as he was the coach of Barcelona during their most successful period after the Pep Guardiola era.

In any case, Barcelona are calling its lawyers, legal experts and communications team to find out pieces of evidence that can help the club defend itself. The idea is to make Joan Laporta appear before the press within two weeks’ time.