Pep Guardiola Defends FC Barcelona over Negreira Case

Manchester City gaffer, Pep Guardiola has stated that Spanish Giant Barcelona should be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty over the alleged bribery case in connection with Joan Laporta and referee Jose Negreira.

Between 2008 and 2012, when Guardiola was Barcelona’s coach, the team is said to have bribed former referee chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. In his four year-spell as manager, Guardiola guided Barca to three consecutive La Liga titles and two Champions League victories, but he maintained that the success of his team had nothing to do with the referees.

Guardiola said in a press conference: “You didn’t see how good this team was, it was a scandal how well we played, when there is a sentence, I will give you my opinion. Barca is innocent, Laporta is innocent, until the opposite is proven.”

Laporta, who served as president from 2003 to 2010 before taking office again in 2021, is also accused of being involved in the payments, which Barca claim were merely for Negreira to compile reports on referees. Man City will play against Brighton on Saturday in Premier League.