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Barcelona slam Sevilla for 'unjustified attack' in fiery statement before La Liga match
Barcelona chiefs have launched a scathing attack on Sevilla hours before they were due to meet in their La Liga clash.
Barcelona have released a statement accusing Sevilla of launching an 'unjustified and inappropriate attack' on the club just hours before the two teams were due to meet in their La Liga match on Friday night. The Catalan club are hosting their Andalusian counterparts at their temporary home, the Montjuic Olympic Stadium, but were staggered to find that senior officials from Sevilla had refused to sit with them for a traditional pre-match lunch.
In a 313-word statement released on Friday evening, the Spanish champions detailed how Sevilla officials had allegedly refused to engage in the traditional pre-match lunch event between the clubs' directors. It is also claimed that the La Liga outfit's chiefs declined an invitation to sit in the stadium's honorary box.
Barcelona's statement was published in retaliation to Sevilla, who had released their own communication, stating their 'complete outrage and condemnation' in relation to the alleged actions of Barcelona's directors.
Barcelona's statement read: "Barcelona wants to publicly show its rejection of an unjustified and inappropriate attack by Sevilla FC, a club that today refused to sit at the table at the institutional lunch between directors prior to tonight's match between both teams at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, where their representatives also refused to attend the honorary box.
"In addition to this contempt, the Andalusian club has sent a statement to the public in which it shows 'indignation and rejection of the practices carried out by former leaders of FC Barcelona accused of the 'Negreira case' and announces their absence in the box at the match. today. Barcelona understands that this is an attack against the Catalan institution and an unacceptable offense."
Sevilla had explained in their statement that their actions were in relation to the Negreira case, for which Barcelona are currently under investigation after being charged for allegedly bribing referees to the tune of millions of euros. The club have denied accusations against them.
In their statement on Friday, the Europa League winners said: "We express our complete outrage and condemnation of the actions carried out by the former officials of FC Barcelona who are indicted in the Negreira case, actions that are allegedly considered criminal by the Court of Instruction of Barcelona, as stated in the court order disseminated in the media.
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"We reject the behavior of FC Barcelona during the periods in which these alleged crimes took place.
"For this reason, we have suspended the normal protocol corresponding to the LaLiga match scheduled for Friday, September 29, between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC, and will have no representation in the Montjuic stadium's VIP box.
Barcelona concluded their statement by threatening to sever all ties and relations with Sevilla until they 'rectify its current position'.
Despite the political squabbling, Jose Luis Mendilibar's side turned up to play Xavi Hernandez's Blaugrana side, with kick-off at 8pm UK time.