Joan Laporta hits back at ‘nonsense’ lawsuit as Barcelona election heats up

Joan Laporta has branded the criminal complaint filed against him and senior Barcelona officials “opaque, suspicious, and nonsense of the highest order,” insisting the case is a politically timed attempt to derail his bid to reclaim the club presidency.

The outgoing president, who is campaigning to return to the post he previously held from 2003-10, appeared before Spain’s Audiencia Nacional after a lawsuit accused him, his brother Xavier, five board members, and three executives of money laundering, tax fraud, and channeling illicit commissions through companies in Spain, Cyprus, Croatia, Estonia, and Dubai. The deals under scrutiny involve Barça Vision, New Era Visionary Group, Turkish contractor Limak, Nike, and premium seating arrangements at Camp Nou.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the complaint was reported by El Periódico, Laporta dismissed the allegations as part of a broader effort to destabilize both his candidacy and the club. “Everything is opaque, suspicious, and nonsense of the highest order,” he said. “There is an interest in harming us.”

The 56-year-old lawyer defended Barcelona’s confidentiality policies, arguing that full contract disclosure could jeopardize the club’s strategic position. “We cannot make all contracts public. Transparency has limits, set by the club’s strategy. Some documents could hurt Barça or contain confidential clauses. Within those limits, we are as transparent as possible. This is normal in business.”

Barcelona’s official response backed their outgoing president, describing the claims as “implausible and detached from reality” and warning of potential legal action against the socio who lodged the suit and any media outlets that present the accusations as proven fact.

The timing is critical. Laporta enters the final stretch of the election campaign as the heavy favorite, promising members that the club is “stronger than five years ago” and cautioning against handing the reins to inexperienced leadership. Rivals hope the court case will erode his support, but early reactions from key blocs suggest the lawsuit has galvanized his base, which views it as a smear tactic.

With ballots set to be counted in the coming weeks, Laporta’s ability to keep the narrative focused on sporting and economic recovery—rather than courtroom drama—could prove decisive in determining who sits in the presidential chair at Camp Nou next month.