Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has said that he will not force his predecessor Joan Laporta to pay back €23m (£20m) that he is legally supposed to.

Last month the Spanish Supreme Court ordered Laporta and his then seven board members to pay the sum they guaranteed back in 2002-03 when he assumed office at Camp Nou.

The case was initiated by Barcelona member Vicenc Pla and according to the law in Spain, only he can make Laporta pay the money.

"I do not know [Pla] at all, even with all that is being said," ESPN quotes Rosell as saying.

"We will see now what he does. The good ones should not pay for the sins of others. Those who have been found guilty must execute [the guarantees], or make a plea to the person who brought the case. We are waiting."

Rosell became the Barcelona president in 2010.