Disgraced ex-FC Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu arrested by Spanish police after raids in club office

Disgraced ex-FC Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu arrested by Spanish police after raids in club office

Josep Maria Bartomeu president of FC Barcelona during the presentation of Quique Setien as a new coach of FC Barcelona with contract till 30th of June of 2022 at Camp Nou Stadium on January 14, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Questionable transfer decisions, questionable financial decisions, questionable manager appointments, questionable player contract decisions. Everything related to Josep Bartomeu for the past 4-5 years has been questionable at best

The scandal known as ‘Barcagate’ was an issue that was unearthed and being investigated by the Spanish. Josep Bartomeu and several other club officials were accused to be a part of it, allegations which they vehemently denied. Following the raids conducted in the club office of FC Barcelona, it was reported that former President Josep Bartomeu was one among the arrested people. Most likely a long and drawn out court proceedings is going to follow which will determine if Bartomeu escapes jail time or not.

Ran the club into ground financially, lost the MVP’s support and now faces time behind bars

Josep Bartomeu isn’t a person shy of controversy, what with his way of appointing managers and conduct with players. Club legend Lionel Messi went on record last summer about how he was being held akin to a hostage at the club where he gave 17 years of his life. To drive a person who bleeds red and blue for his whole life, Josep Bartomeu must have been a special kind of crazy. No other legend who served his club like Lionel Messi felt like this as legends like Steven Gerrard, Francesco Totti and Wayne Rooney all left on good terms with their clubs.

The ‘Barcagate’ scandal proved to be the last straw on the camel’s back as the Spanish police launched a wide-scale investigation. Spanish radio station Cadena Ser unearthed this scandal when it claimed that FC Barcelona officials had contracted with a marketing consultancy firm I3 Ventures. This consultancy was contracted to make negative comments about FC Barcelona players and rivals and to make the club officials look good. This kind of dirty tactics shook the foundation of FC Barcelona and an investigation was launched last year.

FS Video
https://twitter.com/HagridFCB/status/1366338291574972418

Now the Spanish police have arrested Josep Bartomeu after raiding the club office in relation to this investigation.

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