Former Barcelona president lashes out at Florentino Perez and Real Madrid: ‘Doing a lot of damage to football’ | OneFootball

Former FC Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has hit out at Real Madrid, criticising their conduct and accusations directed at the Blaugrana in the Negreira case.

Earlier today, Gaspart appeared at the courts in Barcelona where he testified as a witness before the judge investigating the payments made by the club to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

The former executive emphatically denied making those payments to influence referees, while lashing out at Florentino Perez and Real Madrid.

“I think they are unwittingly doing a lot of damage to football, a lot. Not just to Barça, but to football itself,” said Gaspart, as quoted by MARCA.

It must be noted that Real Madrid have presented themselves as private prosecutors in the Negreira case investigation.

The lawyer representing Los Blancos grilled current Barcelona president Joan Laporta during his testimony a few weeks ago.

Perez has taken a firm stand against the Negreira case. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The Spanish capital club also requested documents and audit reports concerning the Catalans’ finances for the relevant period, only for the judge to turn it down.

Perez and Real Madrid are firm on their stance and are prepared to go all the way in their fight in the Negreira case.

Gaspart, though, vehemently claimed that there had been no payments made to ‘buy referees’ at any stage.

“It’s a lie. And I’ve repeated the word ‘lie’ 33 times. Barcelona has never, neither during my time as vice president nor as president, bribed referees, and I’ve vouched for Messrs. Laporta, Bartomeu, Rosell , and all the Barça executives,” he said.

“The accusation against Barça, that they committed any illegal act, is false. Paying someone to tell the referee to pay the referee so that my Barcelona wins is a lie, and when it’s a lie, it’s a lie.”