In his new and controversial book, 'How We Saved Barcelona', which was released on Tuesday, Joan Laporta delves beyond just the financial rescue of the club, launching a sweeping counterattack against Real Madrid and the Spanish refereeing system. Laporta faces allegations of referee corruption connected to the Negreira case, firmly claiming that Barcelona has not committed any wrongdoing. He confidently challenges skeptics to point out a single match affected by these consultations, implying that the lack of evidence supports his argument that the case is merely a smear campaign against Barcelona.

In response to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez's assertion that the Negreira case is the "biggest scandal in history", Laporta attempts to flip the narrative with historical facts. He reveals in his book that the real scandal lies in Real Madrid's dominance over the refereeing structure for the past seventy years, claiming that the heads of refereeing committees during this period were predominantly former players or officials with ties to Real Madrid. This claim suggests a pattern of favoritism that has long benefited Real Madrid, complicating the narrative surrounding the corruption allegations.

Laporta's statements could have significant implications for football governance in Spain, particularly in how refereeing is conducted and perceived. His insistence on the lack of evidence against Barcelona amid the Negreira allegations positions him as a defender of the club's integrity. Potentially, this could also inspire broader discussions about accountability within Spanish football and the need for reform in how referees are appointed and overseen, given the historical context of allegations surrounding systemic bias in favor of Madrid.