It relates to the ‘Barçagate’ scandal
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has been accused of corruption by Catalan police, report Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo.
The allegations relate to the ‘Barçagate’ story, when documents that revealed the inner financial workings of the club were leaked and raises suspicion. It is claimed Bartomeu made personal financial gains from the club.
El Larguero, a radio programme on Cadena Ser, reprted earlier this year documents appeared to show the club paying a social media company, I3 Ventures, to damage the reputation of individuals, including their own players Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique, who were deemed opponents of Bartomeu.
It has now been alleged that Bartomeu paid I3 Ventures six times the market value for their services. The authorities are now investigating the reasoning behind the value of this payment.
FC Barcelona have always denied the reports that they paid a third party to discredit their own players on social media.
