Laporta: Barça is innocent of accusations made against the Catalan club

In an attempt to reassure the fans of the Catalan club, following the president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta, on the statement issued by Real Madrid, in which he announced that he would take legal action against Barcelona on allegations of bribery of referees. Barcelona president Joan Laporta says there is a "smear campaign" going on against the club surrounding the Negreira referee payment scandal. Real Madrid will side against Barcelona in the legal proceedings that the rival is facing over its payments of millions of euros over several years to a company that belonged to the vice president of Spain’s soccer refereeing committee, Madrid said Sunday after an urgent board meeting.
The decision came two days after prosecutors formally accused Barcelona of alleged corruption in sports, fraudulent management, and falsification of mercantile documentation. An investigating judge will decide whether the accusations should lead to charges. “Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost concern regarding the gravity of the facts and reiterates its confidence in the legal system,” Madrid said in a statement after the board meeting. “The club has agreed that, in defense of its legitimate rights, it will appear at the trial when the judge opens it up to the affected parties.”
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said fans should remain “calm.” “Barça is innocent of the accusations made against it and is the victim of a campaign, that now involves everyone, to harm its honorability,” Laporta said on Twitter. “It is no surprise, and we will defend Barça and prove that the Club is innocent. Many will be forced to rectify.”