The Josep Pedrerol column: Enough of the victimism at Barça

Everyone is present. Real Madrid will appear as a private prosecutor in the Barcelona - Negreira case. There could not be any other outcome given the strong statement from the prosecutor's office.

Madrid president Florentino Pérez has kept a prudent margin until the matter has exploded and has been brought to court. He has now done what Madrid's supporters demanded of him. Those who said that Madrid were covering themselves up and playing dumb in this matter in order to save the agreement with Barça for the Super League have been exposed.

Barça paid the vice-president of the refereeing committee for 17 years. And they did so with several different presidents at the head of the club. Is that normal? Is it ethical? Is it admissible? The most alarming thing of all is that the prosecution considers that there was a "verbal and confidential agreement with Negreira so that, in exchange for money, he would carry out actions tending to favour Barcelona in the decision-making of the referees in the matches played by the club."

It is so serious that it hurts the eyes to read it. Enough is enough. No more victimism. There is no point in saying that everyone is against Barça, that this is a campaign against the club's honour and that they are innocent just because they are.

This has to be followed through until the bitter end, there is no turning back. Laporta can't just throw his hands up in the air. He has to explain why Enríquez Negreira's salary quadrupled during his first term. The current president hardly knew him, he said, but thanked him for his work with more money. Curious.

Barça's image is badly damaged, too badly. The whole truth must come to light, nothing can be swept under the carpet. The club must be protected from directors who used the members' money with unedifying intentions. Laporta does not have it easy, but he must bravely face up to what lies ahead. Declarations, payments, invoices... Everything is too obvious now to say that nothing is happening here and move on.

The president, out of respect for the badge and the history of such an important club, has to show his face. And do so with sincerity. Let it be clear that Barça won the sextete cleanly. That the image of the best Barça in history, that of Guardiola, Messi, Valdés, Puyol, Iniesta and Xavi, should not be tarnished. If the judge rules that they are guilty, let the cheats pay. The club's socios do not deserve this.

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