Joan Laporta, then Barça’s presidential candidate, at a press conference in January 2021. Alejandro García (EFE)
The Dictionary of the Royal Academy of Language defines ‘counterattack’ as that ‘quick play which a sports team makes from the defensive zone as an offensive response to an opponent’s advance’. The tactic—defending oneself by attack—has spread to other disciplines wherever a scandal is uncovered. At this point, cured of terror, it’s difficult to be original.
It was revealed this week that José María Enríquez Negreira, then vice-president of the referees’ technical committee, had been paid a whopping nearly seven million euros by Barcelona football club for “verbal advice” – not even a flimsy powerpoint. Something like the defendant paying the judge in exchange for some tips or advice to put together a good defense.
And the first reaction of the club was literally reminiscent of interventions by other natural or legal persons in difficulty. There are so many similarities that it’s easy to imagine them taking the same crisis management course and passing the trainer’s notes together.
Lesson 1. Everything is wrong… except something.
Barcelona admitted this week after being revealed by Cadena SER, who in the past had hired “the services of an external consultant for technical reports” and “arbitration advice”. “With all normality,” added the club’s president Joan Laporta. And Mariano Rajoy said in February 2013, when asked about Bárcena’s papers and after some of the beneficiaries of those payments admitted the collection: “Everything related to me and my party friends is not true. Except something that some media published. In other words, it’s completely and utterly wrong.”
Lesson 2. The Conspiracy. Baby it’s not what it seems
“I want to be very clear. Culés, it’s no coincidence that this information has come out now when things are going well,” Laporta explained this week. In other words, forget about that awkward thing about the millions we pay to the number two referee and look at what moment they appear when Barcelona have a huge advantage over Real Madrid In other words, as Rajoy said in 2009: “That [el caso Gürtel] It’s not one PP conspiracy, it’s a conspiracy against the PP, which is quite different.” The then President also pointed to the possibility of the scandal – “All this is happening in the midst of the campaign of the Basque and Galician elections” -; Denounced the alleged “differing treatment of prosecutors towards political parties” – where “prosecutors” says, read media and where “parties” says, teams – and wanted to “send a message of reassurance to members and constituents” – partners and fans-
Lesson 3. Outrage, internal investigations and threats.
As is tradition in these cases, the person concerned announced an “internal investigation” after the scandal became known through the media. It is highlighted by Mundo Deportivo: “A few days ago, FC Barcelona launched an investigation process through the Compliance department and outsourced the investigation into the Enríquez Negreira case in order to ensure maximum efficiency during the process.” Rajoy also announced at the time that he had commissioned “an investigation by the President of the National Committee for Rights and Guarantees of the PP”. That should settle the matter – the fox wanted to question the chickens one by one – but just in case it wasn’t enough for someone, the then Prime Minister warned: “We will do everything in our power to let nobody tarnish our party’s name.” . We will not allow the honor of millions of people to be tampered with.” And along the same lines, years later, Laporta warned: “Any biased interpretation that points to things that are not the case will be a reasonable and appropriate response by the have clubs. We reserve the right to take any action necessary to defend the honor of FC Barcelona.”
lesson four. The gentleman you speak of.
Human relationships are complex. Little soul mates who, after years of exchanging intimacy and gifts, wanted an egg, stop talking from one day to the next, with no turning back. They become “the man you speak of” and worse, they may want revenge. Negreira one day felt ‘released from any duty of loyalty and/or confidentiality’ and warned Barça scandals were not in their interest, something he could cause. Bárcenas also threatened to pull the plug when they touched the family.
Lesson Five: Circulate.
The final step in crisis management is to ignore them. Once the conspiracy theory phases have been cleared up, the announcement of an internal investigation “to be completed” and threats against anyone who tarnishes our honor, all that remains is to pretend nothing happened, hoping for a new scandal, best of all elsewhere will cover up the former. Some tender videos of the players playing in practice are posted; you go to a summit outside of Spain… and you say very confidently but unheard: “Move around.”
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