Barcelona president Joan Laporta defends Super League at AGM
Laporta once again spoke in favour of the breakaway competition
The Barça chief also criticised State-owned clubs for their spending
Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke about the club's decision to sell assets in the summer and the need for a new European Super League.
Plans to launch a breakaway competition from the UEFA Champions League fell through last year but Barça remain keen to make it happen, along with Real Madrid and Juventus.
"Barcelona can't live through palancas (selling assets), we know that, but the financial situation for clubs is concerning because we take on all the costs and all the risks," Laporta said at Barça's AGM on Sunday.
"There are 38 teams that have sold their TV rights to CVC for 50 years. We didn't see that as a good operation. We looked for other solutions. The palancas are a one-off. We don't have a State behind us, nor do we want one.
"The previous board made the mistake of wanting to compete with the unsustainable pace set by the State-owned clubs, clubs that are not supervised, clubs that don't follow financial fair play rules and enjoy unlimited financial doping. No one puts the brakes on them. UEFA do the opposite. They give them more power.
"That's why we support the Super League, because it's a competition that will be more even. It will be based on meritocracy and will respect the domestic leagues. Clubs will govern our own destiny. The Super League is a necessity.
"Given UEFA's lack of action, we have to react. It will address this financial doping. The conditions will be equal.
"Please forget about the Super League format and whether it is a rich, elitist, open or closed competition. If Barca are there, it will be because it is an open competition. We have supported the creation of the Super League from the beginning because we believe, and we still firmly believe, that it."
