Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona Football Club, has dismissed the ongoing investigation into the club’s alleged payments to referees in return for preferential treatment as a smear campaign.
The prosecution alleges that Barcelona paid Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spain’s referees’ committee, a sum of 8.4 million euros (£7.4 million), while the club maintains that the money was paid for consultation services.
In his statement, Joan Laporta said: “Throughout its 123-year history, FC Barcelona has always been a model of fair play, both on and off the field. If we have won for so many decades, it has undoubtedly been a result of effort, talent and knowledge.”
“No campaign to discredit us will prevent us from continuing to be an organization of reference in the world of sports that is beloved and admired by millions of Catalans and by many more millions of people around the world.”
“I am fully convinced that FC Barcelona has never performed any act with the intention of altering the competition to gain an advantage.”
Laporta further noted that, “If there were any person or private entity outside FC Barcelona that had taken advantage of this context to commit irregularities, the Club would be the first to fully investigate. Our image is at stake.”
“Accusations must be proven. We live by the Rule of Law, which guarantees among its basic principles the presumption of innocence.”
“I reiterate with all my resolve, I am convinced that FC Barcelona has not committed any crime of sports-related corruption. I hope that sooner rather than later, it is fully exonerated.”
“This is one of the most ferocious attacks in our history. I ask FC Barcelona supporters to be as united as ever in defense of our crest, our essence, and our ownership model, which is that of a club owned by all of its members.” He reiterated
“Consulting on technical-refereeing issues does not constitute any type of illegal act. Consulting — as is done by the big clubs — that was carried out transparently, with the corresponding invoices, at least in my first mandate as president.”
Laporta leveled an accusation against Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, claiming that Tebas was actively attempting to tarnish Barcelona’s reputation. Moreover, Laporta alleged that Real Madrid, who are now involved in the prosecutor’s case, have historically been given favorable treatment when it comes to refereeing decisions.
