Emotional Moment As Barcelona President Breaks Down in Tears in Speech Addressing Corruption Allegations

• Barcelona has been charged with corruption over payments totalling £7.4 million to ex-officials
• Joan Laporta was almost in tears while addressing an event for the captains of the Catalan club
• If found guilty of the serious allegations, La Blaugrana could face serious sporting sanctions

Barcelona president, Joan Laporta was almost in tears while speaking about 'the scoundrels staining our badge' and believes the club will be proven innocent.

The Catalans have been accused of paying a whopping £7.4 million to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, who was the then vice-president of the Spanish referees' committee, between 2001 and 2018.

According to Football Italia, Negreira was officially paid as an ‘external consultant’ providing reports ‘related to professional refereeing.’

However, the charges state categorically that Barcelona paid the former refereeing chief in order to prompt decisions in favour of the Catalan giants.

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La Liga clubs including fiercest rivals, Real Madrid, have since teamed up against La Blaugrana, accusing them of buying favour from referees but Laporta has insisted his club is innocent.

In a video shared on social media, the Barca chief was on the verge of tears, admitting he was emotional about the matter.

“Don’t think that I am getting emotional out of weakness, I am emotional because I really want to face all the scoundrels that are staining our shield," he said, via Barcelona TV.

"Let no one think that it is due to weakness.”

Barcelona opens up on payments

Meanwhile, Barcelona directors have claimed the Catalan club paid a top refereeing boss £6 mil across nearly 20 years in 'self-defence' to protect themselves against bias, Daily Mail reports.

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The accusation against Barcelona stated Negreira performed actions that would 'lead to the club being favoured in the decision-making of referees' and this was 'in exchange for money'.

As the club's legal proceedings heat up, investigators will question Laporta and former managers of Barcelona, Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde about these serious allegations.

Ex-Barca managers to testify

Sports Brief also reported on two of Barcelona's former managers called on to testify after the club was charged by prosecutors for making payments to a former official.

According to Football Espana, Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde will be interviewed to determine their knowledge of the Negreira scandal currently rocking Catalonia.

Barcelona could be set for serious sanctions if they are proven guilty of bribing officials but the current president, Laporta maintains the club's innocence.