Real Madrid to take action against Barcelona over payments
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid will aspect in opposition to Barcelona within the authorized proceedings that the rival is dealing with over its funds of thousands and thousands of euros over a number of years to an organization that belonged to the vice chairman of Spain’s soccer refereeing committee, Madrid stated Sunday after an pressing board assembly.
The choice got here two days after prosecutors formally accused Barcelona of alleged corruption in sports activities, fraudulent administration and falsification of mercantile documentation. An investigating decide will determine whether or not the accusations ought to result in costs.
“Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost concern regarding the gravity of the facts and reiterates its confidence in the legal system,” Madrid stated in an announcement after the board assembly. “The club has agreed that, in defense of its legitimate rights, it will appear at the trial when the judge opens it up to the affected parties.”
It was the primary time Madrid formally weighed in on the matter. Other golf equipment had already expressed their issues over the Barcelona funds, as did the Spanish league and the Spanish soccer federation. The league additionally deliberate to take motion in opposition to Barcelona within the authorized proceedings.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta stated followers ought to stay “calm.”
“Barça is innocent of the accusations made against it and is the victim of a campaign, that now involves everyone, to harm its honorability,” Laporta stated on Twitter. “It is no surprise, and we will defend Barça and prove that the Club is innocent. Many will be forced to rectify.”
Laporta himself was not amongst these accused by prosecutors on Friday.
Barcelona has been underneath scrutiny because the funds to the committee official grew to become public final month. The funds had been initially investigated as a part of a tax probe into the corporate.
Barcelona has persistently denied any wrongdoing or battle of curiosity, saying it paid for technical experiences on referees however by no means tried to affect their choices in video games.
Prosecutors stated in courtroom paperwork seen by The Associated Press that the funds by the membership added as much as 7.3 million euros ($7.7 million) from 2001-18. They added that this “quantity was not justified because it was not foreseen in the statutes of the club nor approved by its general assembly (of club members).”
Prosecutors alleged that the previous vice chairman of the committee, José María Enríquez Negreira, “in exchange for money, was to carry out acts tending to favor Barcelona football club in the decision-making process of referees in the games played by Barcelona, and in the results of the competitions.”
There is to this point no proof that referees or recreation outcomes had been really influenced.
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