The president of La Liga keeps criticizing Barcelona, saying that "Joan Laporta is seeing ghosts."

 

This year, especially in the wake of an investigation that charged Barcelona with paying Enriquez Negreira, a former vice-president of the referee's committee, for information and even result manipulation, hostility between La Liga president Javier Tebas and his Barcelona counterpart Joan Laporta has reached new heights.

Tebas has often criticized Barcelona, even threatening the team with potential punishments, such as promotion, despite the prosecutor's office in Spain finding no evidence that Barcelona was involved in result manipulation.

Tebas most recently criticized Laporta for failing to respond to the charges against Negreira and Barcelona's protracted quiet on the subject.

Today, the president of La Liga renewed his criticism of Barcelona, saying that the Negreira issue casts a negative light on both Barcelona and Spanish football in general.

Laporta claims to be seeing ghosts while none exist. Tebas stated (via Diario SPORT): "It doesn't seem good; the case is harming and will continue to harm not only Barça's but the reputation of all clubs.

His remarks come a few days after UEFA said that it was conducting its own probe into Barcelona and any possible ties to the affair. According to reports, Tebas played a significant role in persuading the European football governing body to look at this issue.

Barcelona has actually been mute on the topic, but they are gathering data and have started a number of independent investigations of their own. The plan is to have Laporta go before the media, probably in April.

Laporta recently made a suggestion that Barcelona has the proof and is prepared to not just defend themselves but also to attack if required.