Barcelona president Joan Laporta has again pushed back against Real Madrid’s claims. He said clearly that “Barca have never bribed any referee.” His comments added new heat to the long rivalry between the two clubs.
Laporta spoke at a book event in Andorra. He reacted to Florentino Perez’s recent comments at Real Madrid’s General Assembly. Perez had called Barcelona’s payments to former Referees’ Committee vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira “not normal.” He also hinted that referees had favoured Barcelona and worked against Real Madrid.
Laporta criticised Madrid for bringing up the Negreira case again and again. He said the club was using the issue to shape its own story. He repeated that the payments were only for consultancy work and technical reports, which Barcelona still claim as their official explanation.
“They’re present at every turn in the legal proceedings of the Negreira Case, which they’re dragging out like chewing gum because they know there’s nothing there. Barca have never bribed a referee,” he said.
Laporta accused Madrid of what he called “Barcelona-itis.” He said Madrid felt the need to speak about Barcelona “to justify who knows what.” He also pointed to Real Madrid’s last league match against Elche. He argued that two Madrid goals should not have stood because of a possible Jude Bellingham handball and a foul by Vinicius Junior on goalkeeper Inaki Pena.
He said this tension comes from Madrid’s struggle to accept Barcelona’s golden era between 2004 and 2015. “They have a persecution complex against the best period in Barca’s history,” he said. He recalled how Barcelona were once “recognised, admired, and esteemed” for their style and success.
Laporta also mentioned Madrid’s fight with LaLiga president Javier Tebas. He said his own relationship with Tebas has had good and bad moments, but remains normal. He criticised Madrid for trying to push Tebas out. He said that Madrid seemed obsessed with removing Tebas and that this was not good news.
