BARCELONA: Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has denied any wrongdoing in the face of a growing clamour concerning his business connections with disgraced ex-Brazilian football supremo Ricardo Teixeira writes KEIR RADNEDGE.
Rosell dismissed the issue in comments to the media after the Spanish champions set out the full financial breakdown of the sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways.
Reports in Brazil have linked Rosell with two shadowy marketing companies which benefited from significant commissions while Teixeira was president of the Brazilian confederation and a member of the FIFA executive committee.
He said: “Everything I have done has always been honest and legal. I don’t believe I have to explain about my private affairs before I became president of Barcelona. No member of our club should be in any doubt that I have acted honestly, appropriately and been totally transparent in what I have declared.”
Messi penalty miss
Rosell was celebrating later as Barcelona won a record 11th Spanish Super Cup on away goals Lionel Messi’s late penalty miss by drawing 0-0 with Atletico de Madrid despite.
Having earned a 1-1 draw with Diego Simeone’s side in the first leg, Barcelona were grateful to goalkeeper Victor Valdes for fine saves from Arda Turan and David Villa.
Atletico lost their discipline late on as Filipe Luis saw red before Pedro was tripped for Messi’s spot-kick. The 89th-minute penalty award for a challenge by Miranda appeared harsh but Argentine Messi sent his spot-kick against the crossbar.
Turan, who had already been substituted, was also shown a red card for dissent.
Neymar, who scored in the first leg, started his first game for the Catalans as they earned their 16th trophy in almost four years and the first for new coach Gerardo Martino.
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