Due to the tensions surrounding Barcelona’s refereeing scandal, the two rival clubs will skip their usual pre-Clasico dinner
Sport reports Barcelona, led by Joan Laporta, will not be having their traditional pre-match dinner with Real Madrid before Wednesday’s Copa del Rey clash due to tensions arising from Barcelona’s payment scandal.
The two boards usually meet for lunch as a gesture of friendship before the Clasico, but Barcelona is unhappy with the way Real Madrid has treated them in the ongoing Negreira case.
La Liga set for a volatile Clasico
Madrid changed their stance and released a statement saying they would testify against Barcelona for their alleged payment to a senior refereeing official, after initially not criticizing the club for the incident.
Barcelona saw this change of position as an insult, especially as the two clubs had previously united against La Liga in opposition to the proposed European Super League in 2021.
Joan Laporta has declined the traditional pre-match lunch before the Clasico before, such as before the game on March 14.
Madrid President Florentino Perez is unsure if he will travel to Catalonia due to concerns over a potentially unfriendly atmosphere. Perez did not travel to the region for the league game on March 19.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are scheduled to face each other in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday. Barcelona currently holds a 1-0 lead after the first leg.
