Ref case won't destabilise Barcelona ahead of Clasico - Xavi

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said the referee corruption scandal will not destabilise the club as they prepare to face Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Barca can move 12 points clear at the top of LaLiga with a win, but the build-up to the Clasico has revolved around the €7 million paid to the former vice president of the refereeing committee.

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A Spanish court this week agreed to open an investigation into allegations of corruption against Barca following the revelation of payments to ex-ref Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

On Friday, Barca president Joan Laporta said the whole saga was born from a «campaign against the club» as he continues to protest the Blaugrana have «never bought match officials nor influence.»

Xavi said he supports Laporta's comments and he will not let the issue distract from his team's attempts to claim a first LaLiga title since 2019.

«They will not destabilise us,» he said in a news conference on Saturday. «We are more stable than ever — and they have been trying [to destabilise us] now since Day 1.

»We are completely focused on winning on Sunday and making a big statement in the title race.… We are not thinking about anything else.

«It won't be definitive if we win, but it would represent a real step forward. I am really up for it, it's my first Clasico at Camp Nou [as coach] and I love these games.»

Xavi was also once again forced to defend criticism of his side's performance in the recent 1-0 Copa del Rey semifinal first-leg win over Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Despite winning the game, with the second leg still to come on April 5, Barca faced complaints after having less than 40% of