Laporta fiercely defends Barcelona against 'SCOUNDRELS' in referee scandal

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 13 Mar 2023 20:01 GMT
• 2 min read

Barcelona president Joan Laporta led a passionate defence at a press conference after the club were further embroiled in their referee scandal, insisting that the charges against them were ‘ferocious attacks to dirty our shield.’

The Catalan side have been indicted by prosecutors after a series of payments were made to the former vice president of Spain’s refereeing committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

Barca deny any wrongdoing, insisting payments were for refereeing and data consulting, and Laporta spoke alongside the captains of the club’s various teams, emotionally directing his defence at those who try to ‘errode their reputation.’

FURY: Laporta slams smear campaign against Barca

He said: "Barça is a club with values. We use the word values, not to look good, but because values really are a fundamental, fundamental part of our sporting excellence model.

“And that's why Barça is admired and recognized in It also happens that some, motivated by envy, try to erode our reputation with campaigns carried out in bad faith.

"Look, Barcelona sentiment cannot be bought or sold, but it doesn't get dirty either. And recently, and I take advantage of the fact that people who love the club are gathered together, there have been some ferocious attacks to dirty our shield, which have nothing to do with reality.

“You can be sure that on the board of directors that I have the honour of chairing, we will defend the entity with all our might. The captains of Barça represent our values and our feelings and you show it on the pitch when you give your all and to the last drop of blood."

Laporta: Don’t take my emotion as weakness

Barca have been accused of match-fixing and corruption with the payments to Negreira, with €8 million sent to his company between 2001 and 2018 by the club.

In particular, the complaint focuses on €2.9m paid between 2014 and 2018 to Negreira by ex-Barca presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, both who have been indicted in the charges along with the beneficiary.

CHARGED: Barca set to fight against corruption accusations

Real Madrid held an emergency meeting to discuss the charges against Barcelona, releasing a statement that indicated they would testify towards the case in front of the judge.

Laporta, meanwhile fought back tears in his press conference, saying: "Don't think that I'm emotional because of weakness. “I'm excited because I really want to face all the scoundrels who are staining our shield. Let no one think it's because of weakness.”