A corruption scandal, accusations of favoritism and Franco’s regime: Real Madrid and Barcelona in war of words over Spain’s fascist past

 Bitter rivals on and off the pitch, tensions between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have taken an unexpected and incendiary turn with the two clubs embroiled in a war of words about which institution was closer to Francisco Franco during the Spanish dictator’s 36-year rule.

The background for the imbroglio is what’s known as the ‘Caso Negreira,’ an alleged referee payment scandal that has landed accusations of corruption at Barcelona’s doorstep.

More than eight weeks after the scandal emerged, FCB President Joan Laporta went out to bat for the Catalan club on Monday.

During a two-hour media conference, which was called to publicly respond to charges that Barça made $7.8 million of payments over 17 years to José María Negreira – the former vice president of Spanish soccer’s refereeing committee – Laporta largely stuck to his script at the beginning.

There were the expected denials and digs at great rival Real Madrid, with Laporta saying the relationship between the two clubs had now “soured” after Barça’s rival got involved with allegations of its own.