CATALAN police have searched the offices of LaLiga giants Barcelona and arrested former president Josep Maria Bartomeu in a corruption investigation.
Last year, it was claimed that the club had paid a social media company to plant online criticism of key club figures in a scandal dubbed ‘Barcagate’.
Catalan police searched Barcelona’s offices on Monday morningCredit: AFP or licensors
Deputy chief of the Mossos criminal investigation division Marta Fernandez was pictured during the searchCredit: AFP or licensors
Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola, Xavi and Gerard Pique were among those allegedly targeted by I3 Ventures in a three-year smear campaign.
These included attacks on Messi’s reluctance to sign a new contract at the Nou Camp while Pique was targeted following his project to revamp tennis’ Davis Cup.
Barcelona’s then-president Bartomeu denied the accusations last February.
But eight club members launched an official police complaint, prompting an investigation that has been ongoing for several months.
It is alleged that the approximate £170,000 fee I3 Ventures charged for each of six contracts were just below the threshold at which the club’s commission are required to sign off spending.
On Monday, police seized evidence and arrested four individuals, with further arrests not ruled out according to Catalan radio station Cadena SER.
Bartomeu was reportedly detained along with former advisor Jaume Masferrer – fired by the club in October for his role in the scandal – chief executive Oscar Grau, and legal head Roma Gomez Ponti.
Police were picture raiding the club offices, namely the legal, financial and compliance departments.
Josep Maria Bartomeu, club president at the time of the contracts being handed out, has reportedly been arrestedCredit: EPA
Barcelona’s offices were also raided by police on Monday morningCredit: Getty Images – Getty
A police spokesperson told AFP that ‘arrests were taking place’, before adding: “We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit.”
In a statement, Barcelona insisted they will collaborate with officials in their investigation.
Th club stated: “Before the entry and search by the Catalan Police force this morning at the Camp Nou offices under the instruction of the Instructing Court number 13 in Barcelona, which is in charge of the case relating to the contacting of monitoring services on social networks, FC Barcelona have offered up their full collaboration to the legal and police authorities to help make clear facts which are subject to investigation.
“The information and documentation requested by the judicial police force relate strictly to the facts relative to this case.
“FC Barcelona express its great respect for the judicial process in place and for the principle of presumed innocence for the people affected within the remit of this investigation.”
Documents relating to the case were also taken in a search conducted last July.
Police seized evidence for their investigation and confirmed four arrestsCredit: AP:Associated Press
Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique were among the stars said to have been targetedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Official charges against those involved have not been ruled out, for unfair administration and corruption between individuals.
Once the claims emerged in early 2020, former chief Bartomeu admitted to hiring I3 Ventures for social media analysis but insisted the agreement had no link to criticism of Messi and Co.
Claims have also been made that Barcelona paid significantly above, around 600 per cent, the market rate for the service.
An external audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers was commissioned, which found no wrongdoing on the club’s behalf and the contracts were cancelled.
Speaking last year, star striker Messi confessed to finding the situation ‘strange’ while Pique slammed the club’s actions.
He said in October: “It’s a disgrace the club actually spent money to criticise us.
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Oscar Grau, appointed as the club’s chief executive in 2016, has also been arrestedCredit: EPA
The scandal dubbed ‘Barcagate’ has been investigated for monthsCredit: EPA
“It’s an atrocity as a Barcelona player to see my club spending money – money they’re now asking for from us – to criticise not just external people with a previous relationship to the club, but players still here.”
In a statement released by Barcelona last year, the club explained: “FC Barcelona roundly deny any relationship, and furthermore, the contracting of services linked to social media accounts that have broadcast negative or disparaging messages related to any person, entity or organisation that may be, or have been, related to the club.
“I3 Ventures, a service provider to the club, has no relationship with the accounts mentioned and, if any relationship was to come to light, the Club would immediately end their contractual agreement and bring about any necessary legal action to defend their interests.
“As such, FC Barcelona confirm that it has services contracted relating to the monitoring of social media with the aim of analysing both positive and negative messages about the organisation itself.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
