Barcelona President Joan Laporta has responded to criticism of the proposed and now cancelled Miami game, where Villarreal were due to host the Catalans at the end of December. Promoters Relevent pulled the plug on the event, due to ‘uncertainty in Spain in recent weeks’.

Ahead of El Clasico, Laporta attended a meeting of Barcelona supporters’ clubs in Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla on Friday night, where he was asked in depth about the events. Laporta told Sport that he did not believe that taking a game to Miami was ‘adulterating the competition’ as Real Madrid had complained.

“What you’re left with is that we here abide by what La Liga communicates to us. But what I do not agree with is that they said the competition was being corrupted. I don’t agree with that. I also think we’re on a very good winning streak against Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica.”

Hansi Flick has an unusual way of revealing his starting line-up. Instead of announcing it in the pre-match team talk, he personally informs certain players in advance, sometimes the day before, sometimes at the hotel, to motivate and mentally prepare them. This also prevents…

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‘The reaction has harmed La Liga’ – Laporta

However there were members of his own club that were not on board with the idea. Hansi Flick has implied that he was not in favour, while Pau Cubarsi admitted that most of the Barcelona squad were against it.

“It was a match to promote the Spanish League and to raise significant amounts of money, which would also have an impact on the Spanish League. And then the clubs that were going to participate in that official match were sure to reap some benefits because going there could generate revenue from sponsorships and stories.”

“It was a way to promote Barça’s image. In fact, they proposed it to us, we saw it was a good idea, and we signed up to do it. The reaction of the AFE, the reaction of the players, and then Real Madrid taking the case to the CSD… It’s respectable. I mean, everyone does what they want and thinks they should do; but well, I think it’s caused harm to La Liga.”

Laporta claims Hansi Flick sending off was pre-meditated

Meanwhile ahead of El Clasico, Flick will not be on the bench after being sent off against Girona last Saturday. Flick was booked and then given a second yellow for a gesture of disapproval at the booking, which Laporta claims was a pre-meditated decision by referee Jesus Gil.

“I’ve already said it. Without meaning to criticize the referees, there are circumstances that should be reviewed. It’s true that the first yellow card is the referee’s decision, but it’s a matter of waiting for the coach’s reaction, and when they show you the card, you’re not happy or content.”

“Waiting for a reaction, for me, is something premeditated that Gil Manzano could have spared himself, but it’s something Hansi has more or less accepted.”

‘Real Madrid influence the referees’ – Laporta

Meanwhile after star player Lamine Yamal added heat to the Clasico by claiming that Real Madrid ‘rob other teams’, Laporta added that Los Blancos influence referees in his view. He pointed to that as the true adulteration of the competition.

“Our opponent has created an unfair atmosphere. Everything they’re doing on their television channels influences and influences the referees. It’s not the right way to proceed. I see it more as a strategy to win. We’re not playing the victim; we’ll try to win at the Bernabeu once again.”

“They cannot say that the referees are against them or that they are in favour of Barca,” he finalised.

On the one hand, it is a dangerous place to be where Barcelona are undermining the integrity of the competition in such public and direct fashion. On another, with Real Madrid and Barcelona both claiming that the other is favoured by officials, little has changed.