The tension between FC Barcelona and Javier Tebas has reached a new boiling point.
The blaugrana board feels harmed after it was confirmed that the president of LaLiga revealed internal information about the club's financial and registration situation to people outside the institution.
An action that, according to sources close to Joan Laporta, seriously compromised the negotiation with Nico Williams and could have legal consequences.
Barça not only believes its right to confidentiality has been violated. It also believes that an action has taken place that could lead to Tebas's disqualification as president of LaLiga.
The Catalan club is already considering what legal steps it can take, convinced that the damage has been real and measurable.
Tebas spoke too much… and with the wrong people
Everything exploded after the leak that Javier Tebas had shared Barça's internal data with people linked to other clubs. That confidential information directly affected the blaugrana club's ability to register players and pursue signings like Nico Williams's.
The Basque player's camp was informed "unofficially" that the deal could not be completed due to Barça's financial problems. The source of that information, as has emerged, was Tebas himself.
This would have led the footballer's camp to speed up his contract renewal with Athletic Club. Tebas made them believe Barça had no room to close the deal.
Laporta doesn't remain silent: "This is very serious"
Joan Laporta is outraged. According to sources close to the blaugrana president, he feels betrayed by someone who should protect LaLiga's neutrality. Guarantee the proper functioning of market rules.
"This isn't just a lack of ethics: it's an extremely serious action that deserves a forceful response," those closest to him assure.
Laporta has already commissioned a legal report to assess whether there are legal grounds to request Tebas's disqualification. At Barça, they believe a red line has been crossed and that the president of LaLiga can't continue acting with impunity.
Barça feels like a victim… again
This isn't the first time Barça feels attacked by the LaLiga presidency. The club recalls previous episodes, such as the rigidity with financial "fair play" or the unequal treatment compared to other clubs. This time the feeling is different: there is evidence, there are consequences, and there is a player lost along the way.
Nico Williams has already renewed with Athletic. Barça, far from standing idly by, is willing to stand up until the end.
Barça is considering requesting Tebas's disqualification after a leak that would have frustrated Nico Williams's signing. The club accuses the president of LaLiga of disloyalty.
"Barça can report Tebas through administrative and criminal channels"
In a conversation with Josep Pedrerol, Miguel Galán explained last night on El Chiringuito Barça's position.
The president of the National Center of Football Coaches (CENAFE) said that "Barça could report Tebas through administrative channels. Through criminal channels, because it would be an alleged crime of revealing secrets. There is evidence.
Athletic issued a statement confirming that they met with Mr. Tebas. It doesn't mention the details. It does hint that the president of LaLiga told them Barça isn't under the 1:1 rule."
Pedrerol asks: Did Athletic's meeting with Tebas influence Nico Williams's refusal to join Barça?
"One hundred percent, totally. In that meeting, where Uriarte and Berasategui were with Javier Tebas and another of his associates from economic control, economic details of FC Barcelona's interim financial statements were provided. In great detail.
Athletic confirmed in a statement that the meeting had taken place. With that information, they met with Nico Williams's agent, with him and his brother, to tell them about the situation.
With that financial information from FC Barcelona, the president of LaLiga told them they had no available funds or registration power…
Crime and disqualification
They were told they couldn't sign a contract under those conditions because it wouldn't be registered. That's when Nico's agent introduced that release clause and Barcelona, wisely, didn't accept. They can't risk losing €60 million."
Direct question from Josep Pedrerol: Did Tebas provide confidential Barça information to Athletic?
Yes.
"That's a crime," adds Pedrerol.
"At the very least, it's an administrative offense that entails disqualification. It's a violation of article 5 of LaLiga's budget control regulations.
It states verbatim that it's forbidden to give information, data, documents of clubs affiliated with LaLiga to third parties. In this case, Athletic."
What did Tebas tell Athletic's representatives about Barça and the accounts that made Nico say I'm staying? Pedrerol wanted to know.
Tebas showed Athletic Barça's auditor's report
He told them specifically that the auditor, the second auditor, hadn't reflected the corporate operation of the VIP seats, worth €100 million, in the profit and loss accounts. Therefore they didn't have the 1:1 rule. He showed them the auditor's report and the auditor's documentation where, based on his report, Barça isn't under the 1:1 rule.
Nico and his agent wanted truthful information. They were told: "I've been with the president of LaLiga and he told me this, this, and this."