Spanish police have arrested former FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, along with several executives on charges of money laundering.
According to breaking news from "Cadena SER" and "Ràdio Catalunya," Bartomeu and Barcelona's CEO Grau, as well as Roman Gomez, the club's legal services head, have been detained.
The Spanish newspaper "Marca" reported that the police raid on Barcelona's offices is linked to the "Barça Gate" scandal, a case that drew public attention in Barcelona last year. Spanish media confirmed that the former Barcelona board hired the company "I3 Ventures" to manipulate public opinion on social media, enhance the image of its members, and discredit individuals and entities that reportedly opposed Bartomeu's administration, including the club's captain, Lionel Messi.
"Cadena SER" also mentioned that further arrests of some officials could occur in the upcoming hours. It’s worth noting that the Catalan police indicated in their investigation last year that there was evidence of corruption in the "Barça Gate" case, asserting that Barcelona's contract with "I3 Ventures" to monitor discussions about the club on social media was possibly charged at six times the usual rate.
