FC Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, denies allegations of paying referees for ‘sporting advantage’
FC Barcelona’s President, Joan Laporta, has dismissed corruption allegations against the club, denying any wrongdoing and affirming that Barca “have never done anything with intentions of taking a sporting advantage in a competition”. Speaking at a press conference at the club’s Camp Nou stadium, Laporta maintained that his club was one with “values” and while they liked to win, it was through fair play and on their own merit.
The allegations of corruption have come to light after Spanish authorities uncovered payments of more than €7.3 million ($7.8 million) to a company owned by former refereeing chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. The accusations have been referred to as a “smear campaign” against the Catalan club, but Laporta has stated that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing and that the payments made to Negreira’s companies were all “legal and documented”.
The president further added that the “third-party” agency looking into the matter had found no evidence of wrongdoing and said that Spain’s tax office sent a letter to prosecutors stating that “it has not been able to demonstrate that the payments made to Negreira’s companies could have influenced the referees or the result of any match.”
While the accusations against the club are serious, Laporta has maintained his stance that Barcelona is an institution of values and that the allegations are part of an orchestrated campaign to destroy the reputation of the club. “Never has a campaign against Barcelona paid off,” he stated. “Barcelona continues to be a point of reference in the world of sports and Barcelona continues to be loved and admired by millions of Catalans and millions of people around the world.”
The allegations of corruption have come to light after Spanish authorities uncovered payments of more than €7.3 million ($7.8 million) to a company owned by former refereeing chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. The accusations have been referred to as a “smear campaign” against the Catalan club, but Laporta has stated that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing and that the payments made to Negreira’s companies were all “legal and documented”.
The president further added that the “third-party” agency looking into the matter had found no evidence of wrongdoing and said that Spain’s tax office sent a letter to prosecutors stating that “it has not been able to demonstrate that the payments made to Negreira’s companies could have influenced the referees or the result of any match.”
The club has also taken to Twitter to defend themselves, writing: “It is one of the most ferocious attacks in our history. I ask Barcelona fans to remain more united than ever in the defense of our shield, our essences and our ownership model, which is that of a club for all members.”
It is worth noting that along with the club and Negreira, two of the club’s former presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, are also facing charges of corruption.
Despite the allegations, Laporta remains confident in the integrity of the club and its values. “We like to win by playing well. That is how we win. We don’t like to win because we had help from the referees,” he stated. As of now, the investigations into the allegations are ongoing, and the football world waits for further updates on the matter.
In the world of sports, allegations of corruption can have serious consequences for clubs and players alike. The integrity of the game is of utmost importance, and it is crucial that all involved uphold the values of fair play and sportsmanship. While the accusations against FC Barcelona are serious, it is important to remember that they are just that – accusations. Until further evidence is presented, it is important to approach the matter with an open mind and allow the legal process to run its course.
