Police arrests former FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu

Just six days after FC Barcelona’s presidential election police raided the offices on Monday, made several arrests. According to Spain’s Cadena Ser radio, the club’s former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October, got arrested.  The club’s CEO Oscar Grau and the legal services head were also arrested.

The police refused to call out names and said “arrests are taking place”. The police disclosed that the operation was carried out by the officers from the financial crimes unit. “We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit,” the police spokesman told AFP. According to Spanish media, the operation is connected with last year’s “BarcaGate Scandal”.

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Former Barca Vice President Emili Rousaud told the RAC1 in an interview: “If the auditors tell us the cost of these services is 100,000 euros and we have paid one million, it means someone has had their hand in the till.” The club took legal action against him. Rousaud resigned in March last year.

The club will elect Bartomeu’s successor this Sunday. The club members will between three candidates: Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font.