Bartomeu arrested as part of ‘Barcagate’ investigation

Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Another dramatic day at the Camp Nou

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu was reportedly arrested on Monday morning by Catalan police in connection with the investigation into the ‘Barcagate’ scandal.

RAC1 report that Bartomeu, club CEO Óscar Grau and Román Gómez Pontí, the head of legal services as well as former adviser Jaume Masferrer were also detained by police.

Guillem Balague reports that the four men have been arrested on suspicion of “unfair administration, corruption between individuals and money laundering.”

The news follows on from reports earlier today that police were at Barcelona on Monday morning to search the club’s offices.

Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images

The investigations reportedly relate to the Barcagate scandal that rocked the club last year where allegations were made that the club hired a company called I3 Ventures to run a smear campaign targeted at current and former players as well as presidential candidates.

Barcelona subsequently denied the allegations and threatened legal action in a statement and also rescinded their contract with I3 Ventures in the wake of the news.

Six Barcelona directors subsequently resigned in the wake of the scandal and amid disagrements about how the club was being run under Bartomeu.

Bartomeu eventually stepped down in October along with his board of directors after more than 20,000 club members signed a motion to remove him and called for a vote of no confidence.

Barca are due to elect a new president on March 7 with Joan Laporta the current favorite to win and take charge of the club for a second time.

Source: barcablaugranes.com