La Liga president Javier Tebas is shocked by the FC Barcelona bribery scandal. The Catalan club is being sued in Spain over suspicious payments to the former vice-president of the referee commission.
“The problem that is happening now is the worst I can remember,” Tebas told television channel on Monday evening Let’s go. “There have been payments from Barcelona to the vice-president of the referees’ committee. That is abnormal.”
Between 2001 and 2018, FC Barcelona transferred a total amount of about 7.3 million euros to a company that is in the name of former vice-president José María Enriquez Negreira. According to the Catalan club, the payments were for advice.
The Spanish prosecutor’s office claims that Negreira was paid by FC Barcelona so that referees would whistle in the club’s favour. The OM is not only going after Barcelona: former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell are also being prosecuted.
“We have not heard a good explanation from Barcelona”
The allegations are causing a stir in Spain. Rival Real Madrid even announced to support the charge. Athletic Club fans threw counterfeit bills into the air in the home game against Barcelona last Sunday. It had the Barcelona logo and the word “MAFIA$” printed on it.
“It is understandable that this case causes tension,” says Tebas. “The reputation of football is at stake. I am ashamed. We have not heard a good explanation from Barcelona.”
Barcelona president Joan Laporta, meanwhile, continues to insist that his club has never tried to influence referees. He said earlier that people are trying to discredit the club because Barcelona are proudly leading La Liga.
“Fierce attacks are taking place with the aim of tarnishing our club logo. They have nothing to do with reality,” an emotional Laporta said on Monday. “You can be sure that the board will defend itself in every possible way.”
