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Barcelona president Joan Laporta unleashed a fierce rebuttal against Real Madrid counterpart Florentino Perez on November 28, 2025. Laporta accused Perez of suffering from “Barcelona-itis,” an obsession with his club that clouds judgment. This response came after Perez alleged Barcelona’s historic success stemmed from referee bribery during a Real Madrid assembly.
Perez sparked controversy by linking Barcelona’s achievements to the Negreira scandal. He claimed payments to former refereeing vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira influenced officiating for decades. Perez insisted this explained Barcelona’s dominance and called for accountability in Spanish football.
Laporta dismissed these claims as baseless excuses. He emphasized Barcelona never bribed referees or engaged in misconduct. Instead, Laporta pointed fingers at Real Madrid TV. He charged the channel with pressuring referees weekly through biased broadcasts.
Laporta highlighted Real Madrid’s attempts to manipulate narratives. He stated their actions aimed to destabilize Barcelona amid ongoing investigations. The Barcelona leader urged focus on fair play rather than unfounded attacks.
The Negreira case originated from Barcelona’s payments totaling over €7 million to Negreira’s company between 2001 and 2018. Prosecutors investigate potential sporting corruption, but Barcelona maintains these covered advisory services. No evidence of direct bribery surfaced yet.
Perez’s remarks escalated the rivalry. He portrayed Real Madrid as victims of a rigged system favoring Barcelona. This fueled debates across Spanish media, with fans divided along club lines.
Laporta countered by praising Barcelona’s resilience. He noted their current La Liga leadership despite off-field turmoil. The president vowed to defend the club’s honor vigorously.
