Catalan Police Arrest Former Barcelona President, Josep Maria Bartomeu

Josep Maria Bartomeu (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The management office of FC Barcelona was reportedly ransacked by the Mossos d'Esquadra - Catalan police on Monday morning (local time) during an investigation operation.

According to Marca's report on Monday, the search was carried out to find evidence and documents related to the Barcagate scandal that had rocked the public in February last year.

In addition, police have reportedly detained former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, CEO Oscar Grau, and club legal chief Roman Gomez Ponti.

As is known, the "Barcagate" scandal last year shocked the world of football when Barcelona, ​​under the leadership of President Bartomeu, was accused of paying third parties to damage the reputation of players, former employees, and presidential candidates on social media.

Bartomeu, the club's current CEO Oscar Grau, and Barcelona's head of legal services Roman Gomez Ponti were arrested on suspicion of "unfair administration, corruption between individuals and money laundering," according to radio station Cadena SER.

Catalan police confirmed they had made several arrests, without confirming the number of arrests made or their identities.

Bartomeu and Barcelona's board of directors resigned last year amid the impact of the controversy surrounding Lionel Messi. The Blaugrana has been mired in political turmoil and debt sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.

The police operation was carried out less than a week before Barcelona's presidential election, with more than 20,000 club members have cast their votes by postal ballot.

Three candidates - Victor Font, Joan Laporta, and Toni Freia - are the candidates who will fill the position of president after Bartomeu leaves.