Laporta said from the Camp Nou stadium, “Tebas fabricates a campaign against Barcelona and against me. He dropped his mask. He continues his obsession with Barcelona and his fear of our club.”
And he continued, “I remember that he is a person who, in the past, showed his hatred towards Barcelona. In 2005, as vice president of Alaves, he filed a complaint because he did not want Messi to play in Barcelona.”
Tebas said Monday that Laporta should resign if he could not explain Barcelona’s payment of seven million euros ($7.46 million) between 2001 and 2018 to a subsidiary of former vice-president of the technical arbitration committee Jose Maria Enriques Negrera.
Laporta continued his attack, “He does not forgive us for not wanting to sign their contract with the CVC (investment fund) that he manages himself. He cannot bear that we support the European Super League. This is his usual way.”
He added, “I will not give Mr. Tebas the pleasure of resigning from my position as president of FC Barcelona. This decision is taken by Socios (the shareholder members of the club). Anyone who tries to tarnish the history and image of FC Barcelona will receive a harsh response.”
For its part, the League commented again on this issue and said in a statement, “The majority of La Liga clubs have expressed their deep concern about this matter, which they consider very serious.”
It added that 40 clubs out of 42 competing in the first and second divisions voted for a joint letter to confirm that it “denies and rejects the facts.”
On Monday, Tebas considered that Laporta should resign “if he does not explain well or in a more logical way why” the club paid the money to Enriques Negrera.
Tebas asserted that despite the breach of the conflict of interest regulations, “sports disciplinary sanctions cannot be imposed because five years have passed”, although he may still face a private trial.
Barcelona initially said that Negrera was being paid for reporting and advice on referees.
© 2023 AFP