The president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, mentioned on Monday that every one funds made by the soccer membership to an organization owned by a senior refereeing official had been for advisory issues and to not achieve any unlawful sporting benefit. Laporta mentioned an inner investigation performed by the membership didn’t present any wrongdoing and he mentioned the case was an orchestrated marketing campaign to discredit Barcelona.
He accused the president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, of “trying to damage Barcelona’s reputation”. He additionally attacked their rivals Real Madrid, who’ve joined the prosecutor’s case in opposition to Barcelona, saying Real had at all times been historicaly favoured by refereeing.
Spanish prosecutors final month filed a grievance in opposition to Barcelona over funds of seven.3 million euros (7.95 million {dollars}) from 2001 to 2018 to corporations owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
Negreira was vice-president of the refereeing committee of the Spanish Football Association from 1993 to 2018. A Barcelona courtroom has agreed to take the case. UEFA has additionally opened a proper investigation for a possible violation of the European soccer governing physique’s authorized framework over the Negreira case.
Laporta instructed a news convention that Barcelona, in its dealings with Negreira, had sought technical recommendation from “someone who has had a career in soccer”.
“The advice does not constitute any kind of misconduct or criminal offence,” he mentioned. Standing in entrance of a field wherein he mentioned that had been 629 technical experiences, 43 CDs and 4 aditional experiences, Laporta mentioned the skilled recommendation was made with transparency and that invoices registered in Barcelona’s accounting system had handed fiscal opinions.
“The Spanish Tax Department sent a letter to the Prosecutor’s Office saying it could not prove that the payments to companies related to Mr. Negreira influenced the result of any match,” he mentioned.
Laporta additionally urged UEFA to be honest to Barcelona in its investigation. La Liga instructed Reuters on Monday it will not situation any feedback relating to Laporta’s accusations.
“The Nergreira case needs to be fully investigated by the proper authorities,” it mentioned.
Tebas mentioned on March he had reported the case to UEFA as a result of no punishment may very well be handed down underneath Spanish sports activities regulation since three years had handed for the reason that alleged infringements. Reuters has requested Real Madrid for touch upon Laporta’s remarks.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
