Iker Casillas and Gerard Piqué got into a discussion over what is known as the ‘Negreira case’, which revealed that for years FC Barcelona paid the number two of the referees, José María Enríquez Negreira, for advice on how to behave with the referees. In the preview of the Kings League, always surrounded by ‘bites’ and discussions to feed the audience, the two ex-soccer players were encouraged to comment on the latest news and were raising their tone.
“It is one of the biggest robberies in the history of football,” Casillas starts. Piqué did not hesitate to respond with examples to the accusation of the Real Madrid exporter: “If we start throwing the blanket away with the Champions League and UEFA, Madrid will come out on all sides. I say nothing more. During those years we lost a League at the Camp Nou against Atlético with a disallowed goal that was legal”.
The ex-azulgrana defended the club, assuring that it is not an illegal practice: “It is an advice to a vice president of the Referees Committee. How are you going to think that all the referees are in on it? “, And he pointed out:” If this happens the other way around, in 12 hours nobody knows anything and it disappears ”.
Casillas did not bite his tongue either and responded with examples, although confusing some dates and protagonists: “We can also talk about the lack of Koeman in the 1992 European Cup, which Julio Salinas threw away. Then the Stamford Bridge scandal in 2009. Biggest mugging I’ve ever seen with Ballack and Drogba. And I’m not telling you in 2011 with Pepe’s expulsion, due to a great squad that touched the ball but got red”.
The debate, which heated up, led to a surprising confession: “Barça and Madrid have benefited the most, we have always said so,” acknowledged the Catalan central defender. To which Casillas replied: “For a team to go two years without receiving a penalty or a red card is incredible.”