Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Sources: Bartomeu arrested in Barca raids

Written by 
Published in Soccer
Monday, 01 March 2021 03:09

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, the club's CEO Oscar Grau and head of legal services Roman Gomez Ponti have been arrested following a raid at the club's offices on Monday, sources told ESPN.

Police arrived at Barca's offices to search for evidence in relation to the "Barcagate" social media scandal and later made the arrests.

- Stream LIVE games and replays on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

It's been one year since it was alleged that Barca, under Bartomeu at the time, paid a third-party company to smear former players, current players and presidential candidates on social media.

Barca strongly denied the allegations and rescinded their contract with I3 Ventures, the company behind the social media accounts.

An external audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers later cleared the Catalan club of any wrongdoing and also found that Barca did not pay an inflated price for a number of services with I3, absolving the club of any corruption on a financial level.

However, police continue to look into the case having opened their own investigation last year. They first raided the club's Camp Nou offices last June in search of documents relating to the allegations.

On Monday, club employees were asked to leave the building as police returned again, seeking more evidence to aid their inquiry.

Bartomeu has since resigned, although his resignation was unrelated to the "Barcagate" scandal, and the club will elect a new president on March 7. Carles Tusquets is filling the role on an interim basis.

The allegations were first made by a local radio station last February. Evidence was revealed that showed that, as well as defending Bartomeu, I3 was behind a number of Facebook accounts that had attacked people related to the club, including players Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique, former captain Xavi Hernandez, ex-manager Pep Guardiola and presidential candidates Victor Font and Agusti Benedito.

Bartomeu and Barca rescinded the contract with I3 immediately and denied all knowledge of the accounts. Bartomeu's adviser Jaume Masferrer was later suspended after being held responsible for the club's relationship with I3.

Masferrer later returned to working with the club and no further action was taken internally following the publication of the external audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Read 242 times

Soccer

Lavelle nets late in Gotham debut to salvage draw

Lavelle nets late in Gotham debut to salvage draw

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRose Lavelle, making her first appearance for Gotham FC, scored sev...

Kane sets goals PB, eyes Lewandowski's record

Kane sets goals PB, eyes Lewandowski's record

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBayern Munich striker Harry Kane has set a personal best for goals...

Weekend review: Arsenal celebrate St. Totteringham's Day, Seville derby gets tense

Weekend review: Arsenal celebrate St. Totteringham's Day, Seville derby gets tense

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIt's another weekend of exciting action across Europe and here we a...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Struggling Luka: Feel like I'm letting Kyrie down

Struggling Luka: Feel like I'm letting Kyrie down

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDALLAS -- Kyrie Irving's scoring brilliance allowed the Mavericks t...

Embiid: Knicks fans' invasion of Philly 'not OK'

Embiid: Knicks fans' invasion of Philly 'not OK'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHILADELPHIA -- After seeing a sea of Knicks fans invade Wells Farg...

Baseball

O's Kimbrel exits with tight back after blown save

O's Kimbrel exits with tight back after blown save

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBALTIMORE -- Closer Craig Kimbrel blew his second save in as many o...

Crew chief: Missed interference call on Judge slide

Crew chief: Missed interference call on Judge slide

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMILWAUKEE -- Aaron Judge should have been called for interference f...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated