Bartomeu Investigation: Malcolm Signing & Barça Espai Finances
Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on the allegations against Josep Maria Bartomeu:
* Charges: The Public Ministry accuses Bartomeu of a continued crime of unfair management, along with several of his associates who were in positions of power at FC Barcelona between 2014 and 2020.
* Initiation of the case: The investigation began with a complaint filed by the current FC Barcelona president,Joan Laporta,who commissioned an economic report on Bartomeu’s management. This report was then presented to the prosecutor’s Office,leading to an investigation by the Mossos (catalan police) and ultimately a formal complaint to the Barcelona Court of Instruction number 16.
* Specific Allegation – Malcom Signing (2018): One example of alleged irregular activity centers around the signing of Brazilian player Malcom for 41 million euros. After the signing, Elenko Sports company agreed to pay intermediaries 10 million euros. The club then agreed to pay Elenko an additional 855,600 euros for intermediation, despite not having a contract with the company. This led to additional fees and interest,causing economic damage to the club.
* Bartomeu’s Alleged Negligence: The prosecution claims Bartomeu failed to exercise due diligence and loyalty by authorizing these payments related to assets not directly belonging to him.
* Other Investigations: Bartomeu is also under investigation in two other separate cases:
* “Slave” case: Concerns alleged payments made to José María Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Spanish referees’ committee.
* “Barçagate” case: Involves payments made to companies to promote Bartomeu’s image and attack rivals during presidential campaigns.
In essence, the text details a growing legal challenge to Bartomeu’s leadership of FC Barcelona, alleging financial mismanagement and potentially unethical practices across multiple areas of the club’s operations.