Bartomeu, arrested, along with Grau, Gómez Ponti and Masferrer for the 'Barçagate case'

Tsunami at Barça. The Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested this Monday morning the former president of the Barça club, Josep Maria Bartomeu to give a statement on the 'Barçagate case'. Óscar Grau, CEO of Barça; Romà Gómez Ponti, responsible for legal services; and Jaume Masferrer, advisor to the former president, have also been detained for the Mossos D'Esquadra and they will have to declare for Barçagate, in which A group of partners denounced the Board of Directors of the Barça club for unfair administration and corruption between individuals. The accusations could go further since, according to various sources, money laundering and diversion of funds could also be investigated.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the arrests of Óscar Grau, a very important person in the club because he signs all the contracts; and Romà Gómez Ponti, have been produced within the club's offices, where the records are being made. In principle, with the president of the Management Board, Carles Tusquets, inside. Both Gómez Ponti and Grau are very close to the president, Josep Mara Bartomeu.

As advanced by SER Catalunya, the Mossos d'Esquadra entered the Barça offices this Monday morning to register them as part of the Barçagate investigation, whose summary secrecy had been extended for the sixth time until next March 10 as there had been no changes with respect to the last extension. It should be remembered that is known as Barçagate to the hiring of Barça chaired by Bartomeu of a company I3 Ventures, which created Facebook accounts to erode the image of former managers, former players and current players of the Barça first team. Also from public persons such as businessman Jaume Roures.

Development of 'Barçagate'

The examining judge number 13 of the Barcelona Court, Alejandra Gil, had considered on February 16 that the preliminary proceedings should continue to be carried out in secret in order to avoid damaging the possible lines of investigation that may derive from them for the verification of the allegedly criminal acts. The judge also reported that the police reports and some testimony had yet to be received in order to contrast the information she already had. The records at the Camp Nou could go in that direction.

In September 2020, the Mossos d'Esquadra had concluded that there was “evidence of corruption” in the case. Barça divided the payment to I3 Ventures into chopped invoices of less than 200,000 euros to bypass transparency controls at the club. Barça even hired an audit that ruled out that the club had ordered the creation of social media accounts; and was suspended from employment and salary to the compliance officer of the club, Noelia Romero, who was later fired. In addition, six members of the board left Barça: Emili Roussaud, Enrique Tombas, Silvio Elías, Josep Pont, Maria Teixidor and Jordi Calsamiglia.

The Mossos had already gone to the Camp Nou in July 2020 to collect information related to the case. They requested documentation on the contracts with I3 Ventures, the price paid and the controls and filters with which the club works. Already then, they indicated that other complaints had been received from individuals related to Barçagate.