Laporta Claims Officials Tilt Toward Real Madrid, Messi’s Exit Was a Smart Move for Barça
29 March 2026
Laporta’s Claim: Referees and Madrid
Barcelona president Joan Laporta reaffirmed that the club must always strive to be exceptionally outstanding in order to win, a standard he said is sometimes undermined by biased refereeing he describes as a "Barcelona phobia" favoring Real Madrid.
In a wide-ranging interview with El País, Laporta said he has long felt the team must be superior because officials appear to tilt toward Madrid, and he framed the Negreira affair as an institutional smear campaign driven by Madrid interests.
Negreira Case, Legal Proceedings, and Madrid’s Tactics
Laporta accused Real Madrid of presenting inconclusive evidence as the case nears closure, while a judge contemplates a six-month extension to ensure the process is handled properly.
He argued that there is an attempt to propagate the narrative that referees favor Barcelona over Madrid, seeking to undermine a historic Barça era that began with Rijkaard and continued under Guardiola.
He added that the accusations now aim to show a club-wide conspiracy rather than an isolated issue, an impression he says Madrid has perpetuated for political purposes within European football governance.
Messi’s Departure, Barça’s Renewal, and Future Honors
On Messi’s farewell, Laporta defended his decision as necessary to revive the club’s economy and build a competitive squad, acknowledging the difficult choice and the longing for a potential return that never materialized as hoped.
Regarding honoring Messi in the future, Laporta stated that the relationship will evolve according to Messi’s wishes and Barça’s interests, with Messi remaining a pivotal figure for generations, deserving a statue and a tribute match as Barça remains his home.
When asked about a comparison with Johan Cruyff, Laporta said Cruyff was a revolution for his generation, while Messi represents art; in terms of goals and assists, Messi’s impact remains unmatched.
He concluded that Barça left the idea of Super League due to lack of a clear objective and because European football governance was moving toward greater sustainability.
Humor break: if the whistle were honest, it would file for empathy leave—for now, enjoy the drama and the coffee while we sort out the stories behind the stories.
Humor break 2: they say football is a simple game—two teams, a ball, and a hundred opinions; apparently, the referee is the extra team with a bigger budget for drama.
