They play dirty — Barcelona president Joan Laporta says referees are helping Real Madrid

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has downplayed Real Madrid's latest achievements, accusing them of having undue influence over referees. 

Los Blancos further widened the gap between themselves and their biggest rivals, Barcelona, in terms of Champions League and LALIGA trophies this season. Real Madrid's double took their tally to 36 and 15 trophies, respectively, in the league and UCL—nine more than Barcelona's LALIGA titles and 10 more than Blaugrana’s UCL triumphs. 

Speaking on Real Madrid's successes this season, Laporta believes the end does not justify the means and credits Los Merengues’s wins to the favouritism they enjoy from referees. 

“Real Madrid? To win, not everything is worth it; they have played very dirty. Referee decisions always fall in their favour,” Laporta said.

Laporta zeroed in on the El Clasico when a Lamine Yamal goal was controversially ruled out due to the absence of goal-line technology. Laporta questioned the use of VAR in the match, castigating LALIGA’s refereeing 

Meanwhile, Laporta and his administration from his first stint as a Barcelona manager have been acquitted over criminal allegations relating to the Negreira case.