Barcelona president Joan Laporta reiterated that Barcelona have done nothing legally wrong after being charged with corruption.
Laporta went on to attack Real Madrid, claiming Barcelona's rivals had historically been favoured by referees because they were “the club of the regime”.
In March, Barcelona were charged with corruption over payments they made to the vice-president of Spanish football's refereeing committee.
Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, who held that role between 1994 and 2018, is also facing charges of corruption in a case brought by the Spanish public prosecutor's office, as is Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barcelona president from 2014-2020, and Sandro Rosell, president from 2010-2014.
Barcelona say they hired an “external consultant” who provided reports “related to professional refereeing” and deny any wrongdoing. Enriquez Negreira has denied ever favouring Barcelona in terms of refereeing decisions.
“FC Barcelona has not committed any activity with the purpose of altering the result of a competition, or receiving any sporting advantage,” Laporta said during a press conference on Monday. “I am fully convinced and can categorically state this.
“I want to mention the report from the tax authorities to the prosecutors where they clearly state they could not prove the payments made to Negreira could have an influence into the closing of referees, or to the result of any football game. They could not prove it simply because it was not possible.
“The main object of the polemics is the technical advice and refereeing advice we received. But none of this can constitute an illegal activity. Even less with criminal consequences.
“All this advice is accredited with invoices. They are all proved with bank transfers, they were part of the club's accountability and all the correspondent taxes were correctly paid.”
Real Madrid confirmed their intention to join the complaint against Barcelona in March, alongside La Liga and the Spanish FA, and expressed their “utmost concern” regarding the charges.Laporta criticised Real's decision to join the complaint and labelled it an “unprecedented show of cynicism”.
“They claim to feel aggravated in sporting terms by this,” the Barcelona president added. “This comes from a club, as we all know, that has been favoured from refereeing back in history and still nowadays. A club that was regarded as 'the club of the regime' back in the days.
“Why was that? Because of how close they were to the political, economical and sportive power… it might have to be remembered that during seven decades, the majority of presidents and officials from the refereeing committee were former Real Madrid partners, former Real Madrid footballers or former Real Madrid executives. During 70 years, the people in charge to make decisions in that regard were from Real Madrid.
“Seeing now that this club joins the official complaint and declares themselves disadvantaged from a sporting point of view is an unprecedented show of cynicism. I hope the whole trial puts them in the place they should be.”
The Athletic has contacted Real Madrid for comment.
UEFA have opened a disciplinary investigation into Barcelona and confirmed that Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have been appointed to look into the matter.
La Liga confirmed it cannot investigate because the case relates to events that took place more than three years ago.
Zadacnpsuy
1
hahahahah and they still can't stop the GOAT CRISTIANO RONALDO DOS SANTOS AVEIRO
18597076(deleted)
1
From what’s reported the amount increased every year due to increase in information that’s all I read about it
That’s the claim.
bopadkotz
1
From what’s reported the amount increased every year due to increase in information that’s all I read about it
who is baba yaga
18597076(deleted)
0
From what’s reported the amount increased every year due to increase in information that’s all I read about it
I need to be more detailed. Not 4 separate times. I meant the payments increased by 4x.
18597076(deleted)
0
From what’s reported the amount increased every year due to increase in information that’s all I read about it
That may be true, but It increased 4 times under Laporta.
18597076(deleted)
0
What do u mean by a contract tho ?? It’s 7m 600 contracts were found only for the past 4 years so I’d expect there were many more reports and in 20 years I think it’d become a smaller amount per report In the end there’s really no evidence to accuse Barca tho I can’t really say anything about the negreira thing because I have not read any reports about it
No, you misread. 600 reports were revealed by Laporta. Not contracts
BabaYaga2312
0
That is likely. But then Laporta is the president who actually increased Payment by almost 4 times the original amount to Negreira. So Laporta was at least a part of the mismanagement of Barca during this time.
From what’s reported the amount increased every year due to increase in information that’s all I read about it
BabaYaga2312
0
The Negreira fax, the hidden payment trails to 7 LLCs, the 400k to Negreira’s son. And why he believes La Liga regulations against hiring an active official Doesn’t apply here. it’s suspicious that he didn’t want a contract because it likely he knew it was illegal. It also doesn’t explain why Barca overpaid for those reports. Not to accuse Barca of anything. But it couldn’t be a case paying for reports AND for other influencing services. Why else would Negreira threaten to expose Barca ?
What do u mean by a contract tho ?? It’s 7m 600 contracts were found only for the past 4 years so I’d expect there were many more reports and in 20 years I think it’d become a smaller amount per report In the end there’s really no evidence to accuse Barca tho I can’t really say anything about the negreira thing because I have not read any reports about it
Fvar4ever
0
I just can’t understand how and why this news conference didn’t address much about anything. The supposed evidence dosnt incriminate Barca but shows the stupidity of the management. Why this has turned into a circus is probably beyond comprehension! Barca didn’t pay refs off cause if they did they sure the hell wouldn’t be getting knocked out of the champions league every season since 2015. All this accusations did and the joke of evidence was prove to LaLiga and the world how missed up Barca management has been for the past ten years without any kind of accountability. Like money is going to keep poring into the pockets of the club and they’ll spend what ever they are asked without any explanation of what their getting in return.
Triola
0
Why would you say someone deny an allegation without proof? The didn’t deny anything because there was no proof to begin with, so he only clarified things on his part
Akekala
2
Varcelona: oh no! we have been oppressed in the Franco era! meanwhile Varca in the Franco era👇
18597076(deleted)
0
In the end anything to do with the bartomeu Sandro rosell era is just poor management 😪
That is likely. But then Laporta is the president who actually increased Payment by almost 4 times the original amount to Negreira. So Laporta was at least a part of the mismanagement of Barca during this time.
18597076(deleted)
0
He displayed the 600+ reports they got by paying the money what else should be explained tho ?
The Negreira fax, the hidden payment trails to 7 LLCs, the 400k to Negreira’s son. And why he believes La Liga regulations against hiring an active official Doesn’t apply here. it’s suspicious that he didn’t want a contract because it likely he knew it was illegal. It also doesn’t explain why Barca overpaid for those reports. Not to accuse Barca of anything. But it couldn’t be a case paying for reports AND for other influencing services. Why else would Negreira threaten to expose Barca ?
BabaYaga2312
0
Maybe you didn’t know that Balongun. But that is all old repeated news. They also overpaid for the same reports, that other clubs obtain. Which is why there is a lot of doubt over these claims. It’s either another example of poor Barca management or just obfuscation.
In the end anything to do with the bartomeu Sandro rosell era is just poor management 😪
BabaYaga2312
0
He saying the same stuff everyone already knew. He doesn’t explain the Negreira fax, which is the main point. He doesn’t explain why Barca paid 7 LLCs, and 400k to Negreira son. And doesn’t explain why he did so all without a contract. And he doesn’t address how La Liga measures don’t apply. It’s illegal, La Liga measures, to contract with an active official. He added nothing. I was hoping he was going to provide a rationale that justifies everything. He kept implying everything would be clarified by the press conference. Not sure why needed to rehearse this, it just a chance for him express his feelings.
He displayed the 600+ reports they got by paying the money what else should be explained tho ?
18597076(deleted)
0
free catalonia from spain
That would be terrible for La Liga, for Spain. But mostly Catalonia and Barca. Imagine a league where it’s just Barca, Espanyol and Girona. Nobody will watch. The prize award wouldn’t even be a quarter of what they’d earn in La Liga. I don’t think it’d even reach a million euros. Lol
18597076(deleted)
0
It did not accomplished anything because it unveil Madrid secret. for 70 years match officials were Madrid players, members, presidents, partners. don't worry More secret are still coming to light. Goat fan.
Lol where’s the proof? That claim should be very easy to prove. Just name these appointed referees or committee officials that were former managers/players/presidents. It likely did happen as football developed. If he is saying it happened during Franco dictatorship lol than he is really desperate. It has no bearing to modern day football. It’s like assuming Germans today are still Nazis lol
18597076(deleted)
1
This has always been known… idk why Madrid fans pretend they don’t know or maybe their now-come Madrid fans… their club has been corrupt from the early 1900s… heavily involved politically and Perez himself has always been involved with corruption… let’s not pretend… they’ll get exposed very soon ☝🏼
Maybe that’s true. Probably likely during Franco’s regime. But no proof. No fax, no hidden payment trails, no former active official threatening to expose unless payments continued. All the speculation against Barca, is at least due to the suggestive evidence. Like Negreira fax, which is why Laporta’s defamation lawsuits will go nowhere. It’s meant to incur expensive legal costs on news media. Real Madrid has a case against Laporta for defamation, as he stated an accusation in public forum with absolutely no evidence. Now Let’s assume The Negreira fax is bad evidence. Which it probably is, Well Laporta doesn’t even have bad evidence to support his accusations.
18597076(deleted)
0
am sure you did not read well, he said there are invoice for each payment and all taxes are paid, what else are you expecting, u can read again
My apologies, you’re not Balongun! I’m confusing you with somebody else
18597076(deleted)
0
am sure you did not read well, he said there are invoice for each payment and all taxes are paid, what else are you expecting, u can read again
Maybe you didn’t know that Balongun. But that is all old repeated news. They also overpaid for the same reports, that other clubs obtain. Which is why there is a lot of doubt over these claims. It’s either another example of poor Barca management or just obfuscation.
18597076(deleted)
0
am sure you did not read well, he said there are invoice for each payment and all taxes are paid, what else are you expecting, u can read again
We already knew that claim. But it doesn’t explain. 7 LLCs to hide the payment. Payments without a contract. And 400k paid directly to his son. Not does explain why La Liga rules don’t apply. Why do you develop amnesia for the above ?
oladehinbo
0
He saying the same stuff everyone already knew. He doesn’t explain the Negreira fax, which is the main point. He doesn’t explain why Barca paid 7 LLCs, and 400k to Negreira son. And doesn’t explain why he did so all without a contract. And he doesn’t address how La Liga measures don’t apply. It’s illegal, La Liga measures, to contract with an active official. He added nothing. I was hoping he was going to provide a rationale that justifies everything. He kept implying everything would be clarified by the press conference. Not sure why needed to rehearse this, it just a chance for him express his feelings.
am sure you did not read well, he said there are invoice for each payment and all taxes are paid, what else are you expecting, u can read again
18597076(deleted)
0
I mean what do u want him to say ?? No one has any evidence against Barca Barca has proof of reports what exactly should he have told tho ?
He saying the same stuff everyone already knew. He doesn’t explain the Negreira fax, which is the main point. He doesn’t explain why Barca paid 7 LLCs, and 400k to Negreira son. And doesn’t explain why he did so all without a contract. And he doesn’t address how La Liga measures don’t apply. It’s illegal, La Liga measures, to contract with an active official. He added nothing. I was hoping he was going to provide a rationale that justifies everything. He kept implying everything would be clarified by the press conference. Not sure why needed to rehearse this, it just a chance for him express his feelings.
BabaYaga2312
0
This press conference accomplished nothing. It was just Laporta’s chance to rant and rave. I was hoping for something more.
I mean what do u want him to say ?? No one has any evidence against Barca Barca has proof of reports what exactly should he have told tho ?
valverde7
0
This has always been known… idk why Madrid fans pretend they don’t know or maybe their now-come Madrid fans… their club has been corrupt from the early 1900s… heavily involved politically and Perez himself has always been involved with corruption… let’s not pretend… they’ll get exposed very soon ☝🏼
AshraT
1
What do you expect of a professional bribe giver? For them to accept and be thrown into Segunda or division 4 of Spanish Football system
lucdortuy
3
It did not accomplished anything because it unveil Madrid secret. for 70 years match officials were Madrid players, members, presidents, partners. don't worry More secret are still coming to light. Goat fan.
18597076(deleted)
1
This press conference accomplished nothing. It was just Laporta’s chance to rant and rave. I was hoping for something more.
phemoranking
1
if they don't want barca too participate in laliga they should talk rather than all this mess.
MagicalM
3
free catalonia from spain