Barcelona chief Joan Laporta blasts 'one of the most ferocious attacks in history' as internal probe finds no corruption

Barcelona president Joan Laporta launched a stinging rebuke after “one of the most ferocious attacks in our history” as he revealed an investigation ordered by the La Liga giants into its controversial payments for refereeing reports found NO evidence of corruption.

UEFA are investigating payments made to a former vice president of Spain's referees' committee and punishment could lead to a Champions League ban. Ethics and disciplinary inspectors from the European governing body have been appointed to probe alleged payments made for favourable decisions involving the Catalan club. It is alleged that the Catalan giants paid around £7.4million to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira and his company Dasnil 95.

Laporta reiterated the club's payments over several years to the company owned by Negreira were only for technical reports and not to influence referees. The Camp Nou chief said he believed there were no ethics breach and that Barcelona was the victim of a campaign to hurt its reputation.

He said: "This is one of the most ferocious attacks in our history. I ask FC Barcelona supporters to be as united as ever in defence of our crest, our essence, and our ownership model. No campaign to discredit us will prevent us from continuing to be an organisation of reference in the world of sports that is beloved and admired by millions of Catalans and by many more millions of people around the world.”

Barcelona enjoyed huge success during the 17-year period from 2001 to 2018 that they paid Negreira, winning 10 Spanish La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies and four of their five Champions League crows. Prosecutors have accused Barcelona of alleged corruption in sports, fraudulent management, and falsification of mercantile