It is a corporate earthquake in Barcelona: according to local press reports, the vice president of the club Emili Rousaud, disheartened by the president Josep Maria Bartomeu, and five other directors, members of the board, have submitted their resignations. In addition to Rousaud, they are Enrique Tombas, Silvio Elias, Josep Pont, Maria Teixidor and Jordi Calsamiglia.
In a farewell letter to the members, the six wrote that they decided to leave because of the "Barça-gate" scandal, or the link between Barcelona and the "I3 Ventures" firm which, upon payment of the club, for improve the reputation of Bartomeu and the Board of Directors on social networks, they created fictitious accounts to discredit possible opponents and, in some cases, even some players.
"It seems clear to me that someone put their hands on the club's coffers - the now ex-vice president of Barça Rousaud told Rac1 - I don't know if the president knew it, but we can't look elsewhere. The key is fragmentation of invoices and audits. If you pay a million euros for something worth 100,000, something is wrong. And the payment of this million has been split into five 200,000 euros bills to avoid checks: in fact there is an ongoing investigation. The social affair is something dirty ".
Barcelona responded to these accusations with a statement stating that "in light of the serious and unfounded accusations presented by Mr. Emili Rousaud, former vice president of the club, in various media interviews, FC Barcelona categorically denies any action that could be described as corruption and, therefore, reserves the right to take the corresponding legal actions ".
"The resignation of board members announced in the last hours - continues the Barça note - is the result of the board reshuffle promoted by President Josep Maria Bartomeu this week and which will be completed in the next few days. This remodeling of the Board of Directors has the target to face the last term with maximum guarantees, in order to implement the necessary measures to prepare the future of the club and overcome the consequences of the health crisis we are experiencing ".