Barcelona officials are furious over the Spanish authorities’ and media’s apparent disregard for the recent provocative remarks made by Real Madrid players regarding the bribery case involving the vice-president of the Spanish referees’ committee, Neguera.
Thibaut Courtois was the first to ignite this controversy when he mocked Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s comments about refereeing during the pre-match press conference before the Champions League game against Juventus, saying, “He’s saying that because of the Negrera case and everything related to it.”
The second incident that sparked outrage at the Camp Nou offices occurred during El Clásico, when cameras caught Jude Bellingham confronting referee Soto Grado after he awarded a free kick to Pedri, telling him, “Even with Neguera, you wouldn’t have given that foul.”
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona officials are stunned that a comment like Lamine Yamal’s, made jokingly on a podcast, received such widespread attention, while the actions of Real Madrid stars seem to go unnoticed by the media, La Liga, and the Spanish Football Federation.
The prevailing sentiment at Barça is that their players are being punished for a joke, while their rivals discuss legal matters on the pitch and in the media without any repercussions, which is perceived as a blatant injustice.
It is expected that Laporta’s administration will take action in the coming period to stop this provocative behavior from Real Madrid players, whether through media appearances or by filing complaints, especially since the Negreira case is currently before the courts and should not be discussed or alluded to in this manner, as it constitutes a clear violation of the law.
