BARCELONA, March 18 — Spain’s Clasico is one particular of the world’s major sporting occasions, pitting giants Barcelona and Real Madrid head-to-head, but the build-up to Sunday’s La Liga clash has been overshadowed by “Caso Negreira”.
Barca have been charged with corruption by Spanish prosecutors for payments concerning 2001 and 2018 to the organization of previous refereeing chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, totalling around €7.3 million (RM 35.3 million).
The club say they were paying out for studies and advice on refereeing but prosecutors have accused the club of in search of to obtain favourable choice-building from officials.
Prices had been submitted very last week against Barcelona, previous vice president of Spain’s refereeing committee (CTA), Negreira, and two previous Barcelona presidents, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, among the other people.
Whilst La Liga leaders Barcelona can nearly clinch the title if they conquer 2nd-position Real Madrid on Sunday to transfer 12 details clear, headlines stay dominated by the Negreira situation, with tensions growing close to Spain.
In the first spherical of fixtures soon after Barcelona were being charged past weekend, at numerous stadiums there was a kind of protest from the meant corruption scandal.
It was clearest in the Basque place, in which Xavi Hernandez’s side faced Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Supporters threw mock revenue on to the pitch with “mafia” printed on it, along with Barcelona’s club emblem.
“I was amazed at the hostile ambiance in direction of Barca, it was unhappy to see,” stated Xavi immediately after his team’s slender 1- win.
“(Barca) are becoming judged prematurely, which I don’t imagine is excellent for culture.”
Right after Barcelona’s payments to Negreira’s enterprise were unearthed in February, the club responded speedily and denied any wrongdoing.
President Joan Laporta stated the club experienced purchased an exterior investigation and would provide responses as immediately as they could.
On the other hand, they have not scheduled a news meeting to respond to queries on the concern and their silence has been criticised by La Liga president Javier Tebas.
“Yes (It is the worst moment) that I bear in mind,” Tebas instructed Movistar channel Vamos on Tuesday.
“The issue that we have is the worst. There are payments recognised by Barcelona to the vice-president of the CTA, that is something abnormal.
“It’s understandable that pressure is produced. The popularity of our football is at stake. I am ashamed. We have no rationalization from Barcelona.”
Participating in the target
Laporta did talk at a lunch occasion with the Equestrian Circle in Barcelona and mentioned there was a “campaign” to damage Barcelona’s passions.
“Let it be apparent Barca have never ever acquired referees and Barca have in no way had the intention of obtaining referees, totally under no circumstances,” explained the president.
Some, which include Tebas, have criticised Laporta and Barcelona for playing the sufferer.
Very last Sunday Actual Madrid joined the proceedings versus Barca as an “injured party”, along with the CTA, Spanish football federation, La Liga and Spain’s countrywide sports activities council.
Barcelona will not host the standard administrators lunch with Genuine Madrid and their president Florentino Perez in advance of the Clasico as a consequence, according to Spanish stories.
Immediately after a interval of fairly friendly relations in between the two clubs — both of those collaborating on the unsuccessful breakaway European Super League strategy — it marks a cooling.
However, Perez was underneath strain from supporters demanding Madrid get action in opposition to Barcelona.
Tebas spoke again on Thursday, declaring he did not feel Barcelona experienced “bought referees” but he also said that “hiding is not the way” and the club had to deliver comprehensive solutions.
The league’s president reiterated that no sporting punishment can be handed to Barcelona as the alleged infringements occurred as well lengthy back.
Laporta took to social media on Friday to check out and turn focus to the Clasico, inquiring for the fans’ support a lot more than at any time as the club closes in on their 1st La Liga title due to the fact 2019.
“We will protect ourselves and we will assault, but now I want us to focus on cheering the crew on,” reported Laporta.
“We should not have our awareness diverted by other matters. Let’s guidance Barca since we really like them.” — AFP