Barcelona president Joan Laporta has responded to comments made by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez regarding the 'Negreira case'. The Catalan club's leader dismissed the scandal as a 'non-existent case', claiming his rival is using it to mask their own failures.
Previously, Florentino Perez had suggested there were signs of corruption in the relationship between Barcelona and former Technical Committee of Referees vice-president Jose Maria Negreira. This sparked significant debate within the football community.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Joan Laporta responded sharply to these accusations. He believes the discourse surrounding the 'Negreira case' is being used to tarnish Barcelona's reputation and overshadow Real Madrid's recent sporting results.
“Everything related to the Negreira case is a non-existent issue, it is simply a lie. I think they are trying to distract people and hide the fact that they haven't won anything in two years,” said Laporta.
The Barcelona president accused Real Madrid of using the club's name to cover up their own shortcomings. He noted that despite heavy investment, the Madrid club has failed to achieve the expected results.
“They are using Barcelona to hide their own failures. They spent a lot of money, but they haven't won anything yet. We, on the other hand, continue to win,” he added.
Laporta also recalled Barcelona's recent achievements. He highlighted that the Catalans have won two consecutive La Liga titles, two Super Cups, and the Copa del Rey, aiming to show that the club proves its strength on the pitch.
“We have won two consecutive league titles, two Super Cups, and the Copa del Rey,” Laporta stated.
Meanwhile, the Barcelona president announced that the club is exploring options to officially respond to Perez's statements, suggesting they may express their position through the appropriate legal channels.
As a reminder, in 2023, Barcelona was accused regarding payments made to former Technical Committee of Referees vice-president Jose Maria Negreira. The Catalan club was accused of making payments totaling approximately 8.4 million euros between 2001 and 2018.
Barcelona has consistently denied these allegations. The club's management has maintained that the payments were for technical and consultancy services, not to influence referees.
This controversy remains one of the most heated topics in Spanish football. The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona continues off the pitch, involving not just legal proceedings but a battle for political and sporting image between the two giants.
In short, Joan Laporta delivered a sharp response to Florentino Perez's remarks on the 'Negreira case'. He labeled the scandal a lie and claimed Real Madrid is using Barcelona to hide their own failures. In Spanish football, El Clasico continues not only on the pitch but also in front of the microphones.
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