Revealed: The 12 questions Real Madrid’s lawyers put to Joan Laporta during Negreira trial and his answers | OneFootball

1. The first stage is unclear to me. “Were you informed that these payments were being made to companies linked to Mr. Enriquez Negreira?” “I was informed that there were payments for technical analyses related to refereeing and scouting. And that these services were useful.” 2. “Were you aware of this, did you know about it, or was it explained to you?” “I’ll say it again. I won’t go into details. The president doesn’t go into details on these issues, and we set the guidelines. We’re told that we have to go one way, and we don’t get into the details of whether a company was being paid.” 3. “My specific question is, who decides on this type of increase [in payment]?” “Well… I understand the sports department recommends that these payments continue. Who decides? It was about continuing to compile some data. I don’t know the details. Given the amount involved, the executive team had the autonomy to continue these payments. Payments under €1m don’t even reach the board of directors these days.” 4. “Was this information known to the board of directors?” “I had been informed. But it’s information that isn’t discussed in the board meeting because of the amount involved.” 5. “How could FC Barcelona have known that it was making payments to companies linked to the vice president of the CTA?” “Ask them. The details you’re referring to are in itemised invoices that are reflected in Barcelona’s accounting records. The auditors have determined that there were no irregularities.” 6. “How many verbal agreements, for amounts in the range of €500k, does FC Barcelona have or make?” “Things have changed. Back then, I imagine verbal contracts were, I won’t say common, but they could happen. I don’t know if this particular contract existed or not, because I didn’t see it. I’m referring to the contract for technical officiating advice. But I can tell you that everything is stricter now. My obsession in this presidency is compliance. This has now changed dramatically.” 7 and 8. “I’m going to ask you specifically about two invoices from your time in office.” “Your talking to me about an invoice from 20 years ago, and you’ll allow that I don’t remember it. I don’t know about the other one. He might be referring to a scouting report.” 9. “During the 2008-2009 season, Mr. Javier Enriquez was coaching Fenerbahçe. Could he have prepared the reports while serving as Fenerbahçe’s assistant coach?” “I don’t know. Ask Mr. Enriquez.” 10. “I’m asking about Mr. Carles Naval. Mr. Carles Naval is the delegate, isn’t he? Is he the one who found or had in his possession the 647 reports that have surfaced?” “I know they turned up at the back of the closet, and I don’t know if it was Carlos or someone from the sports department who found them. Fortunately, so that there’s no doubt about it.” 11. “Have you reached any conclusion that this contract wasn’t awarded directly, but rather that a third party, through their companies, received or withheld sums totaling €1m?” “Regretfully, but I can’t answer that. I wasn’t president. But I think compliance did a good job. At that time, they investigated the invoices and the services provided.” 12. “Has FC Barcelona analysed whether Mr. Contreras’ [deceased Barcelona Director] companies actually provided services? And if they didn’t, have they made any claims against those companies?” “I imagine that we will draw some conclusions from this whole process, and depending on those conclusions, the club will defend its interests. I wasn’t president then, so I can’t give you any specifics.”

“FC Barcelona has never taken any action with the aim or intention of altering the competition in order to gain a sporting advantage. And I prefer not to comment on it now, but it is clear that this is an orchestrated campaign to try to damage Barca’s reputation and to try to tarnish a glorious era in our history, which, fortunately, they will not succeed in doing. Those were times when Barca became a global benchmark, both for what they won and how they won it.”

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