Joan Laporta, President of FC Barcelona, was interviewed by Camel Live on his way to attend the pre-Champions League board lunch on Monday. He shared his views on the recent hot topics surrounding the club.
On the new cooperation agreement with Uber
“This is a business cooperation between two private enterprises, and the entire process fully complies with legal regulations. We have completed all internal compliance review processes. This agreement meets both legal standards and ethical norms, so there is no reason not to sign it. Although this matter has sparked some discussions, we do not want it to escalate further or continue to ferment. Moreover, no political factors were involved in this cooperation. This morning, we met with the general manager and representatives of the taxi industry. The atmosphere of the meeting was very positive, and we hope this matter can be put to an end and no longer cause more disturbances.”
On Real Madrid opposing the relocation of the Villarreal vs. Barça match overseas
“We are already accustomed to such things from them. Regarding the match to be held in Miami, we have reached relevant agreements with La Liga and Villarreal. We maintain a calm attitude towards this and hope to bring joy to fans in Miami and across the United States. As for Real Madrid’s attitude, they have the right to act according to their own ideas, and I will not interfere. I am the President of Barça; Real Madrid has its own considerations. We will advance according to the established plan and do not intend to participate in this dispute. The team is about to face a crucial week: there is an important match against Olympiacos in the middle of the week, which we must win with an excellent performance. Immediately after that, there will be a key showdown against Real Madrid on the weekend, when the two teams will compete for the top spot in La Liga.”
On appealing Frick’s red card
“We have initiated the appeal process and reviewed the match video again. We believe these materials need further review and hope the penalty result can be re-evaluated. We think there are reasons to have the penalty reduced. The referees fulfilled their duties during the game, but this situation could have been avoided, and we hope they will accept our appeal.”
