![\"Joan](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/129384990_gettyimages-1482799634-696x392.jpg\" "\\"Joan")
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
An investigation into claims that Barcelona paid referees for preferential treatment is part of a smear campaign, says club president Joan Laporta.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors allege\u00a0Barcelona paid Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, former vice-president of Spain\u2019s referees\u2019 committee, 8.4m euros (\u00a37.4m).<\/p>\n
Barcelona say the money was for consultancy work.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one of the most ferocious attacks in our history,\u201d Laporta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am convinced that FC Barcelona has not committed any crime of sports-related corruption. I hope that sooner rather than later it is fully exonerated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ask FC Barcelona supporters to be as united as ever in defence of our crest, our essence, and our ownership model, which is that of a club owned by all of its members.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ ALSO<\/strong><\/p>\n Last month a court heard that Barca had been indicted on charges of \u201ccorruption\u201d, \u201cbreach of trust\u201d and \u201cfalse business records\u201d.<\/p>\n European football\u2019s governing body Uefa has said it is also\u00a0investigating\u00a0the matter.<\/p>\n Laporta said Barcelona have a paper trail of the payments made between 2001 and 2018.<\/p>\n \u201cSome services were provided,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were documented. There were invoices, payments registered in the accounting books. There was no crime of corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n Laporta accused La Liga president Javier Tebas of trying to \u201cdamage Barcelona\u2019s reputation\u201d and said rivals Real Madrid, who have joined the prosecutor\u2019s case, have always been favoured in terms of refereeing decisions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n