Barcelona have revealed that they have filed a complaint against the club’s former president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, with local prosecutors following an inquiry into “potential irregularities.”

Following his appointment 11 months ago, Joan Laporta recruited a team of corporate investigators to conduct an investigation into the previous board’s actions.

According to Reuters, Bartomeu was detained in March 2021 following claims of illegal management and corporate wrongdoing, which resulted in an inquiry dubbed ‘Barçagate’ raiding the Nou Camp headquarters.

Following his arrest, the former president spoke to local news channel Sport to defend his tenure as president.

He said: “Our management was not disastrous and La Liga, UEFA, and the auditors say so.

“With 180 million (euros) in profits, and with Forbes valuing us as the most valuable club in the world. This serious and rigorous management was cut short by the appearance of the pandemic, which led to a drop in income of some 500 million.”

It gets interesting…

In a statement released by Barca on Wednesday, they said: “On Tuesday 1 February, the results of the in-depth investigation brought about as a consequence of Financial Due Diligence and with the objective of detecting possible irregularities in the management of the Club during the previous presidential mandate will be presented publicly.

“As such, the action already taken by the club will also be included in the report made to the local Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office as a result of the facts that have come to light from the conclusions reached by the in-depth investigation. The presentation will take place at the Auditoria 1899 from 11 am CET and will be carried out by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta.”

What is he being accused of?

Bartomeu has previously denied any misconduct or mismanagement at the club, despite Laporta’s assertion in August that the Catalan club paid “exorbitant” payments to staff who worked on transfers during his tenure.