Real Madrid ‘adulterating’ La Liga: Barca coach Xavi

Qatari football club al-Sadd SC’s Spanish coach Xavi Hernandez reacts during Qatar Stars League match between al-Sadd SC and al-Duhail SC, at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium (Al-Gharafah Stadium) in Qatar’s capital Doha on November 3, 2021. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez complained Friday rivals Real Madrid are influencing referees “every week” and said it meant La Liga was “completely adulterated”.

Los Blancos lead La Liga by two points from Girona and sit 10 clear of champions Barcelona, down in fourth place.

Real Madrid’s television channel has broadcast hours of controversial content this season attacking referees.

“I don’t like that they are influencing referees and they are doing it every week. I think it adulterates the competition a bit,” Xavi, who will leave Barcelona at the end of the season, told a news conference.

Barcelona and several of the club’s former directors were charged with bribery last year after payments to a former Spanish refereeing chief, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

The Catalan club denies their payments of over seven million euros ($7.5 million) were an attempt to influence refereeing.

“The Negreira topic has not helped us at all, and that’s a reality — and this is how we have to compete,” continued Xavi.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said earlier Friday that Real Madrid television’s content was “shameful” and the club was not “behaving well”.

Laporta criticised refereeing of a recent Madrid game against Almeria where Carlo Ancelotti’s side were losing 2-0 but won 3-2 with three controversial VAR decisions going their way.

“We saw a disgrace in the game against Almeria,” said Laporta, speaking to RAC1 radio station.

“And they will say that the referees are helping Barca — we