Gaspart's Revelations: Real Madrid Damaging Football, Barça Denies Any Violations
6 February 2026
Gaspart's Testimony and Barça's Defense
Joan Gaspart, the former Barcelona president, rejected the charges against Barça, insisting the club did not violate any laws. He spoke during a hearing in the Negreira case, presenting his views to the court in Barcelona on Friday morning.
Gaspart told reporters that Real Madrid and Florentino Pérez are harming football through these allegations, not Barcelona alone. He argued that the sport is being damaged by claims that do not reflect Barça's actions.
He added a provocative remark about health: some people die from heart problems linked to the pressures surrounding football, questioning whether those who believe football is corrupt would actually suffer such episodes.
Gaspart then defended key Barça figures—Laporta, Bartomeu, Rosell, and other club officials—stating clearly that Barça did not interfere in match outcomes. He reiterated his claim from the court that the payments made to José María Enríquez Negreira were for refereeing-related advisory reports, not for influencing results.
Reflecting on his tenure, he recalled leaving the presidency amid controversy, joking that 100,000 napkins were used to demand his resignation as a dramatization of the pressure he faced. He argued that this level of noise is not a legitimate measure of wrongdoing.
Asked directly whether he ever bought a referee, Gaspart warned against insults and asserted that Barça has never engaged in such conduct. He challenged those who try to persuade the public otherwise, insisting no legal violation occurred.
Gaspart criticized the climate of accusation, saying that football should not be dismantled by unproven charges. He had just returned from China when questioned about the situation and emphasized that Barca’s image should be protected from sweeping, unfounded claims.
The former Barça president also noted that Barça never influenced match results and that payments made between 2001 and 2018 to Negreira were for consultancy services related to refereeing, not for altering outcomes.
