Negreira Case: Gerard López Testifies on Referee Reports

The long-running investigation into payments made by FC Barcelona to former Technical Committee of Referees vice president José María Enríquez Negreira has reached a new turning point. Former Barcelona Atlètic coach Gerard López and reserve-team delegate Toni Alonso appeared in court to provide testimony regarding the controversial refereeing reports.

Conflicting views on internal reports

López and Alonso maintained that these documents were a standard part of their match preparation. They explained that before the implementation of VAR, these reports were crucial for understanding the tendencies of officials, particularly regarding disciplinary habits like card distribution. This testimony directly challenges the accounts of former first-team managers Luis Enrique Martínez and Ernesto Valverde, who previously stated they were unaware of or did not utilize such reports during their tenures.

The investigation, which has spanned nearly four years, focuses on approximately €8.4 million in payments made between 2001 and 2018. While Barcelona has consistently argued that the funds were solely for technical consulting, prosecutors are examining potential charges including sports corruption and money laundering. With the investigation phase now formally closed, the case is moving toward a potential trial.