Barcelona News: Joan Laporta says investigation over referee payments is 'ferocious attack'

In Barcelona news, prosecutors allege Barcelona paid Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee, 8.4m euros (£7.4m).

In a two-hour news conference on Monday, Laporta said there was a smear campaign against Barca, strongly criticised LaLiga president Javier Tebas and called out Real Madrid's "cynicism" for joining the legal case against the Catalan club.

Barcelona say the money was for consultancy work.

"This is one of the most ferocious attacks in our history," Laporta said.

"I am convinced that FC Barcelona has not committed any crime of sports-related corruption. I hope that sooner rather than later it is fully exonerated.

"I ask FC Barcelona supporters to be as united as ever in defence of our crest, our essence, and our ownership model, which is that of a club owned by all of its members."

Last month a court heard that Barca had been indicted on charges of "corruption", "breach of trust" and "false business records".

In other Barcelona news, European football's governing body Uefa has said it is also investigating the matter.

Laporta said Barcelona have a paper trail of the payments made between 2001 and 2018.

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"Some services were provided," he said. "They were documented. There were invoices, payments registered in the accounting books. There was no crime of corruption."

Laporta accused La Liga president Javier Tebas of trying to "damage Barcelona's reputation" and said rivals Real Madrid, who have joined the prosecutor's case, have always been favoured in terms of refereeing decisions.

A Spanish court continues its investigation into the prosecutor's allegations, while UEFA have also opened their own enquiry.

LaLiga cannot sanction Barca because any possible punishment is time-barred, but UEFA could act if the club are found guilty of any wrongdoing.