Barcelona and Real Madrid Presidents Trade Explosive Accusations in Heated War of Words

Barcelona chief Joan Laporta has leveled accusations against Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, claiming he suffers from "Barcelona-itis," which Laporta characterizes as an unhealthy "fixation" on the Catalan club.

Considering the intensity of Laporta's allegations regarding Real Madrid's purported sway over match officials, it seems this unhealthy preoccupation exists on both sides.

Pérez reignited this war of words during Madrid's general assembly last week by once more bringing up the 'Negreira Case'—the active formal probe into the €8.4 million (£7.3 million, $9.7 million) in alleged payments Barcelona made to José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) refereeing committee.

Laporta waited five days before getting his opportunity to fire back. He pulled no punches. "I believe they've crossed the line," the president fumed, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, "they expose Madrid's fixation on Barcelona. It appears they must discuss Barça to rationalize who knows what.

"They're perpetually involved in the legal matters of the 'Negreira Case,' which they're stretching out endlessly because they understand there's no substance to it, but it's their method of justifying something that's false: Barça has never corrupted referees, and officials typically don't support Barça; they've consistently supported Madrid."

Laporta maintained that this favoritism remains as evident as ever.

Laporta: Barcelona Should Be Topping La Liga

Escalating his verbal assault, Laporta shifted focus to Madrid's disputed 2–2 tie with Elche last Sunday, where both of the capital team's goals were surrounded by controversy.

"Just this past matchday, Real Madrid netted two goals that, in my view, clearly featured [Jude] Bellingham using his hand, and in the second, Vinicius [Junior] fractured [Elche goalkeeper] Iñaki [Peña]'s nose. Neither goal should have counted, and Barça would be atop La Liga currently."

Madrid salvaged that disappointing performance with a draw, which constitutes the narrow lead Xabi Alonso's team holds at the top of the La Liga standings.

From Laporta's perspective, every result Madrid secures is perpetually compromised by the influence wielded by the club's internal media platforms. "Real Madrid's television network attempts to sway the referees weekly," the Barcelona executive declared.

Real Madrid's 'Victim Mentality' Regarding Barcelona's Golden Era

While discussing the Negreira case, which encompasses payments from 2001–18, Pérez suggested this alleged scheme resulted in Barcelona's "finest sporting achievements." Laporta strongly objected to Madrid's efforts to undermine his club's golden period.

"They harbor a victim mentality regarding the greatest era in Barça's history," he complained. "They resented that Barça was the globe's premier team from 2004–15, an era of supremacy, and they're attempting to fabricate justifications that go nowhere.

Barcelona, Real Madrid Records Between 2004–15

"We were the squad that displayed the finest football, acknowledged, respected, and valued for our contributions, recognized for our achievements, and admired for our methods. We captured numerous trophies, and Barça's playing philosophy was celebrated globally, so don't fabricate excuses."

"If they're afflicted with Barcelona-itis, I'm pleased for them because those are typically periods when Barça flourishes and succeeds," Laporta concluded.