Laporta’s sharp take: refereeing bias, debt under control, and a Flick era in sight
10 March 2026
Laporta slams referees and outlines Barca’s path under Flick
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been vocally critical of La Liga refereeing, arguing that decisions frequently disadvantage the Blaugrana and inadvertently tilt the balance toward Real Madrid. He also touched on the club’s finances, the future of coach Hans-Dieter Flick, and the influential role Deco plays within the Catalan project.
In an appearance on the El Partidazo de COPE show, Laporta reviewed Barca’s financial trajectory, stressing that the board has significantly reduced debts in recent years. He also highlighted contract renewals for several key players to ensure Barca remains competitive on and off the pitch.
“We’ve cut the club’s debt by roughly €200 million over the last five years,” he said, listing renewals for Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Jules Koundé, Fermín López, and others as evidence that Barcelona’s finances are now under control.
He also touched on the European Super League, explaining that Barcelona and Real Madrid pursued a project to address the growing financial gap in European football and eventually stepped away without sanctions. “We were in the Super League together, challenging the big-money clubs, and we exited the project in a compliant way—Madrid did the same,” Laporta noted.
Referees, Deco, and the Messi benchmark
Laporta did not shy away from criticizing refereeing, arguing that officials often harm Barcelona while sometimes aiding Real Madrid during difficult spells for the Catalans. “From my view, referees generally disadvantage Barcelona; when the team struggles, they don’t lend a hand and sometimes complicate things further,” he asserted. He added that when Real Madrid hits rough patches, referees sometimes appear to help them.
Regarding the club’s leadership and the role of Deco, Laporta asserted that Deco’s continued presence is crucial for the project’s stability. He warned against rival candidates who propose replacing Deco with multiple people for a single role, saying those ideas would not serve Barcelona well.
On the future of the team’s coach and the Flick vs Guardiola debate, Laporta stressed he does not believe in threats but would take decisive action if necessary. “Flick is very happy at Barcelona and satisfied with the infrastructure and the sporting project,” he said, though he did not rule out drastic measures if required.
He also defended the club’s sporting director, stressing Deco’s importance to the project, and criticized Victor Font’s proposals for restructuring the club’s leadership. “Font wants to replace Deco with three people for one role—frankly, those three would not be on par with Deco,” Laporta remarked.
Lamine Yamal, Messi, and a Flick-led present
Asked about the comparison between rising star Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, Laporta praised the youngster’s extraordinary talent but reaffirmed Messi as the best to ever play the game, noting that Messi offered Barca everything and Barca offered Messi everything in return.
When asked to choose between Hansi Flick and Pep Guardiola in the current moment, Laporta expressed admiration for Flick and hinted that, if he had to pick now, Flick would be the preferred option. He tied Deco’s ongoing presence to the club’s stability and reiterated that the project emphasizes long-term sustainability and sporting success.
To close, Laporta emphasized that Barca’s finances are under control and that the club’s plan remains focused on stability, nurturing young talent, and sustaining a winning mindset. And yes, if humor were on the wage bill, it would be fully renewed as well—because even a serious club deserves a light moment after reading the budget sheet.
