Real Madrid and Barcelona no longer compete.
The newest Barcelona controversy concerning bribes to a former referee has soured ties between the Spanish powerhouses.
Both clubs are open about their difficult relationship.
“It’s damaged,” Barcelona president Joan Laporta remarked. We have good institutional links with all clubs, including Madrid. The “clasico” is the world’s biggest spectacle and rivalry. However, they have damaged the institutional connection.”
Since it was revealed that Barcelona had paid more than 7 million euros ($7.6 million) over multiple years for refereeing reports from a former vice president of the country’s officiating committee’s firm, the teams have been swapping direct assaults.
Madrid was one of the clubs that joined the judicial procedures against Barcelona for sports corruption, fraudulent management, and commercial document fabrication. The team voiced its “utmost concern regarding the gravity of the facts” as a “affected party.”
In his first press conference to explain Barcelona’s actions, Laporta called Madrid’s claim that referees injured it during Barcelona’s most successful era “an unprecedented exercise in cynicism.”
“Everyone knows that Real Madrid is a club that is historically and currently favored by refereeing decisions,” Laporta stated. “It’s known as the regime’s club because of its proximity to those in power politically, economically, and in sports.”
Laporta said that Madrid had dominated refereeing for 70 years.
“For 70 years, those in charge of making sure that there was justice on the field were either former members or players or officials from Madrid,” he claimed in one of Barcelona’s sharpest criticisms.
Madrid refuted Laporta’s assertions late Monday on its TV station and social media platforms.
Madrid linked a film to Gen. Francisco Franco, including the Camp Nou Stadium inauguration, using photos from Laporta’s news conference and Barcelona’s history. The over-four-minute film closed with the query, “What was the regime team?”
Barcelona and Madrid have had a good relationship and an unspoken pact of no aggressiveness while recruiting youth players or dealing with the Spanish soccer association and league. They were still collaborating to develop the Super League.
Laporta said the clubs’ rocky relationship shouldn’t damage the Super League.
“Other clubs keep Barcelona out of the Super League,” he continued. “We believe it’s vital for European soccer.”
Laporta said Madrid president Florentino Pérez, who missed the past two “clasicos” at Camp Nou, was “under a lot of pressure by Madrid fans.” He believes Madrid should have waited longer before joining the Barcelona legal procedures.
The teams played five times this season, with Barcelona winning three and Madrid winning two, including a 4-0 win at Camp Nou in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
Barcelona defeated Madrid in the Copa del Rey first leg at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. It also won the last Spanish league game between the two, helping the Catalan club win the title. With nine games left, it leads Madrid by 11.