Barcelona president denies any crime in refereeing scandal

[April 17, 2023]  BARCELONA (Reuters) - Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona soccer club, said on Monday all payments made to a company owned by a senior refereeing official were transparent and came in exchange for advisory and not to get any illegal sporting advantage.

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - April 17, 2023 FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta during the press conference REUTERS/Albert Gea

A Barcelona court agreed to take on the case last week after prosecutors filed a complaint over what they alleged were payments of 7.3 million euros ($7.95 million) from 2001 to 2018 to firms owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

Laporta said there was a media campaign to discredit the club.

(Reporting by Joan Faus and Inti Landauro)

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