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Josep Maria Bartomeu was apparently arrested (archive image)
Photo: ALEJANDRO GARCIA / imago images / Agencia EFE
The Spanish police arrested the former president of FC Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, in the course of the investigation into the so-called "Barçagate" affair.
This is reported by the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, the newspaper »Sport« and the portal ESPN.com.
Accordingly, the current managing director Óscar Grau and the head of the legal department, Román Gómez Pontí and Bartomeus advisor Jaume Masferrer were arrested.
The police confirmed preliminary arrests but did not reveal any names.
The police searched offices in the FC Barcelona stadium on Monday.
Following the disclosure of Cadena Ser, the club confirmed the authorities' action.
Media photos also show two officers from the Catalan police Mossos d'ESquadra going to the Camp Nou stadium.
The reason for the search was not officially disclosed at first.
According to Cadena Ser, the search in the Camp Nou has to do with the "Barçagate" affair.
Club officials were accused of having launched a smear campaign against players who were critical of the club's leadership at the time, headed by President Bartomeu.
The judiciary's investigations deal with allegations of "corruption" and "unfair administration".
Bartomeu resigned in late October after preventing emigrant superstar Lionel Messi from leaving the club barely a year before his contract expired in the summer of 2020.
The new president will be elected on Sunday.
The vote was originally supposed to take place on January 24, but it has been postponed due to the corona pandemic.
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