Laporta’s advisor calls out Real Madrid for impacting officiating standards – ‘They put pressure and got results’ | OneFootball

Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s advisor, Enric Masip, recently appeared on the La Taverna del Barça podcast (h/t Mundo Deportivo), where he gave his honest take on several key issues surrounding the club.

From controversial refereeing to the infamous Negreira case, Masip did not hold back in expressing his views.

Masip, a well-known figure at Barça, began by discussing the refereeing in El Clasico and shared a long-standing feeling that Barcelona often needs to be much better than their rivals just to get a fair shot at winning.

“Since I was young, it always felt like something strange happened to Barça. When we lose and talk about the referee, it’s seen as an excuse. But even when we win, we must point out things that don’t make sense,” Masip said.

He referenced several moments, including incidents in Milan and games where Real Madrid nearly equalised in dramatic fashion. “If you lose La Liga, they will count it as another for Madrid. Nobody will remember how it happened,” he added.

Negreira case, VAR controversies

Masip also addressed the much-discussed Negreira case, calling it inconsistent and unfair. “The Referees’ Committee has always had links with Madrid, yet they have tried to tarnish our name with this case,” he argued.

Masip criticised refereeing decisions during the Clasico. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“There’s been no match where we were favoured, no influence on results, and even people from Madrid admit it.”

He was equally critical of how pressure tactics are used before big games. “What Madrid did before the Copa del Rey final worked.

“They put pressure on the officials, and it got them results. Barça doesn’t usually do this, but you can see the difference in how matches are handled,” he said.

“Even during the golden era of Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi, the pressure from others was obvious. VAR, once a useful tool, is now more of a problem.”

Lastly, Masip distanced himself from the club’s decision to part ways with Xavi. “I don’t decide if a coach stays or goes, or if we sign someone. I’m here to advise. I know how to compete because I’ve had great coaches and success in my career.

“I say what I think, even when it’s not popular. I didn’t come to Barça to make friends—I came to help the club succeed,” he concluded.