Key Takeaways:
- Barcelona president Joan Laporta delivered a fierce criticism of Real Madrid during a club event this week
- Laporta accused Real Madrid and their television channel RMTV of orchestrating smear campaigns and violating ethical and moral standards
- The relationship between the rival presidents has sharply deteriorated amid the ongoing Negreira case and public barbs
Laporta Intensifies Hostilities with Real Madrid
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has fuelled the ongoing rift with Real Madrid, launching a stinging attack that alleged their rivals have undermined ethical and moral standards. Addressing attendees at a club function, Laporta maintained that Barcelona have been targeted with orchestrated smear campaigns and highlighted Real Madrid’s media output, especially via RMTV, as a driving force behind what he described as persistent falsehoods and institutional intimidation.
🗣️"Son ellos los que tienen un bodrio de televisión, en el que solo vomitan mentiras e intoxican”
Laporta, presidente del @FCBarcelona_es, carga contra el Real Madrid en la cena de Navidad de su club ⚽️#futbol #deporte #Barcelona #realmadrid pic.twitter.com/txwch6lhwJ
— RNE Deportes (@RNEdeportes) December 19, 2025
Presidential Tensions Heighten Amid Negreira Saga
The acrimony between Barcelona and Real Madrid’s hierarchies has intensified over recent weeks, following several public exchanges involving Laporta and counterpart Florentino Perez. Once united by common institutional concerns, the two presidents now frequently trade pointed remarks, propelled by the contentious Negreira case concerning Barcelona’s payments to former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
Laporta previously labelled Real Madrid as suffering from “acute Barcelonaitis,” a pointed jab in response to renewed scrutiny by Los Blancos on Barcelona’s business with Negreira. This dispute continues to headline Spanish football, further straining relations between the clubs.
Barcelona President Accuses Rivals of ‘Lies’ and Manipulation
Laporta escalated his rhetoric during Barcelona’s Christmas gathering, issuing a direct condemnation that, while not explicitly naming Real Madrid, left no doubt as to his target. He condemned unnamed parties for abandoning codes of conduct and engaging in campaigns designed to harm the Blaugrana’s image and standing.
In his address, Laporta asserted: “I have to say that this dimension that we have reached also generates envy, and that these are managed very badly by those who, using bad arts, break all codes of conduct, ethical and moral, and not only sporting ones.”
He then referenced Real Madrid’s media channel and its perceived role in the ongoing rivalry: “I suppose you know who I am referring to: those who are the architects of permanent smear campaigns against our shield and our essences. And we are not going to allow this,” Laporta stated.
Laporta added emphatically: “They are the same ones who confuse power with unenlightened despotism; those who practice cynicism and excessive arrogance; those who have a piece of television from which they vomit lies and intoxicate constantly and permanently.”
Classical Rivalry Now Institutional Battlefield
These most recent comments signal a marked departure from Laporta’s earlier, more conciliatory tone with Perez at the start of the year. Previously, the Barcelona president had advocated for dialogue and restraint, but repeated public reference to the Negreira issue has ushered in a period of open confrontation.
Until early 2023, cooperative relations between Barcelona and Real Madrid had prevailed alongside their on-field competition. The emergence of the Negreira investigation, with Real Madrid entering legal proceedings and amplifying public pressure via media statements, fractured this delicate balance.
Laporta has depicted these renewed criticisms as part of a calculated campaign to tarnish Barcelona’s legacy, values, and recent sporting upturn, noting that Real Madrid’s persistence continues despite increased investment in their own squad. Furthermore, tensions are exacerbated by lingering resentment from the European Super League saga, with Perez reportedly unhappy following Barcelona’s withdrawal and return to UEFA competitions.
Implications for Spanish Football
The question remains whether Perez or other Real Madrid officials will offer a formal response to Laporta’s most recent broadside. With the Negreira proceedings unresolved and both clubs occupying leading positions within Spain’s football governance, additional confrontations may be unavoidable. The collapse of institutional cooperation between the two giants threatens potential repercussions across La Liga and the wider Spanish football ecosystem.
| Key Issue | Barcelona Position | Real Madrid Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Negreira Case | Denies wrongdoing, frames as smear campaign | Renewed public and legal scrutiny of Barcelona |
| Media Relations | Accuses rivals of media attacks via RMTV | Increase in critical coverage targeting Barcelona |
| Institutional Cooperation | Advocated dialogue earlier in 2023 | Relationship soured after Super League saga |
