Laporta tears into Real Madrid for leading campaign against Barcelona

Barcelona President Joan Laporta has criticised rivals Real Madrid for leading the campaign against Barcelona in their case against LaLiga and the Spanish prosecution, who accuse the Catalans of continued corruption in sports. 

Barcelona is currently facing legal proceedings in Spain concerning payments made to a company owned by former refereeing chief Enrique Negreira between 2001 and 2018 that totalled more than €7 million. 

The club has denied the allegations, with President Laporta holding a press conference to explain their dealings with the former LaLiga refereeing chief. 

During the press conference, Laporta also bizarrely went after Real Madrid accusing them of hypocrisy, and claiming that Los Blancos, not Barcelona, have been the beneficiaries of sporting favours historically. 

Laporta was asked what he thought about other LaLiga clubs joining the petition against Barcelona and part of his response was, “I want to highlight the case of one club. That club is Real Madrid. A club that has always been favoured historically and was club of the regime [of Spainis nationalist ruler General Francisco Franco].”

“I want to remind you that over 70 years, the majority of people who have assigned referees have been directors, members or players of Real Madrid. Or sometimes all at the same time.”

Laporta was incensed that given Real Madrid’s history, they would dare to join the other LaLiga teams to accuse Barcelona of wrong-doing, accusing them of trying to destabilise their biggest competition in the country.  

He made his feelings clearer, saying, “That Real Madrid would present themselves in this case, as a victim of sporting corruption, is an act of maximum cynicism. After the most successful period in Barcelona’s history… man…”

“There are no coincidences. This is a campaign to destabilise us.”

“We all know Real Madrid have been favoured historically,” he stated dramatically.

“It is an act of maximum cynicism for Real Madrid to present themselves as an injured party.”

Despite the scathing attack on Real Madrid, Laporta also said that the two teams still maintain a diplomatic relationship and would be open to working together on future projects which is important as they remain the only two Spanish teams still involved with the