Barcelona have filed a complaint with the local prosecutor of former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his council followed the investigation of “possibly deviations”, club said in a statement on Wednesday.
After being elected President Barcelona 11 months ago, Joan Laporta assigned a financial audit and hired company investigators to look into the previous council.
“On February 1, the results will be presented openly for in-depth investigations brought as a consequence of the finance test and with objects detecting the possibility of deviations in the club’s management during the previous president’s mandate,” the club said Wednesday.
“This announcement will also include details about the complaints submitted by the club to the Barcelona Provincial Prosecutor’s Office based on the facts originating from the conclusion of forensic investigations.” Reuters cannot contact Bartomeu to comment.
He previously denied mistakes or mismanagement.
Last August, Laporta said Barcelona had paid “disproportionate amount” money in commissions for intermediaries who worked on the transfer made by the club during Bartomeu time responsible.
Bartomeu was arrested in March as part of a police investigation related to the accusations of improper management and business corruption which also saw the Camp Nou office was raided.
The investigation comes from ‘barcagate’ affairs where the club is accused of making a marketing consulting contract to regulate social media campaigns against current and critical ex-personnel.
After his arrest, Bartomeu defended his time at the club in an interview with Barcelona newspaper sports.
“Our management is not a disaster and Laliga, UEFA and the auditor says it,” he said.
“With 180 million (euro) in profit, and with Forbes assesses us as the most valuable club in the world.
This serious and tight management is cut by a Pandemic appearance, which causes a decrease in revenue of around 500 million..”