Negreira affair: Laporta hits out at Barcelona ‘smear campaign’

Robin Bairner

• 17 Apr 2023 10:36 BST
• 3 min read

Breaking

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hit out at the Negreira affair as being a “smear campaign” that is designed to sully the reputation of the club.

Barca are accused of having illegally paid €7.3 million to the former vice president of Spanish football’s refereeing committee, Jose Mara Enriquez Negreira.

UEFA is set to investigate the case, which could lead the club to be banned from the Champions League.

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Laporta has spoken out forcefully at a press conference addressing the situation.

“Barcelona fans have been suffering a smear campaign for two months that has nothing to do with reality,” he said.

“In our history we are a model of sporting integrity. We win thanks to effort and talent. When we do, we celebrate together, and when we lose, we don't look for excuses. We like to win. And we like to win by playing well, without refereeing help.

“We have detractors, sometimes out of jealousy, who now come back. No smear campaign will make Barca anything but a model in world football that will be loved all over the world.”

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Negreira case an orchestrated attack on Barcelona and Catalunya - Laporta

Laporta has doubled down on his claims that the timing of the news breaking - just as Barcelona approached a run of vital games - was planned to cause as much damage as possible.

"I already said when the 'Negreira affair' came out that it was no coincidence," he said. "II have more information and I can now confirm that FC Barcelona has never carried out any action whose purpose or intention is to adulterate the competition in order to gain a sporting advantage.

"The tax agency has not been able to demonstrate that the payments made could have affected any result. And they have not been able to demonstrate it because it was not possible."

Laporta claims that the attack on Barcelona is an attack on Catalan nationalism - a controversial topic in Spanish politics.

"They want to destroy one of the emblems of Catalonia such as FC Barcelona, ​​some spheres of power do not support the club being a platform for Catalanism open to the world," he said.

"Our legal and juridical department will continue to take legal action in defence of the club's reputation and we reserve the claim for damages, which can be quantified.

"The 'Negreira affair' is not a crime of sports corruption."

Barcelona, on the field, are running away with LaLiga, despite a 0-0 draw with Getafe on Sunday. Barca still hold an 11-point advantage over Real Madrid in the title race.