Barcagate: Police Raid Camp Nou Offices, Josep Maria Bartomeu Arrested?

News breaking out of Spain suggests that police have raided the Camp Nou offices amid the "Barcagate" scandal that saw high-profile figures such as Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique being targeted by a social media company reportedly hired by FC Barcelona.

Local radio station SER Cataluyna has reported that Catalan police, called Los Mossos d'Esquadra, have searched the club's Camp Nou offices as part of an investigation.

The ongoing inquiry has been dubbed "Barcagate", and involves a reported contract between the club and a social media company called I3 Ventures, who were hired to put into effect a smear campaign against popular figures tied to Barcelona.

Among the high-profile names targeted was captain Messi and veteran centre-back Pique, as well as Xavi Hernandez, presidential candidate Joan Laporta and former manager Pep Guardiola.

Ronaldinho spent over a month in jail after being caught with a fake passport in Paraguay

Tony Adams – sentenced to four months in prison for drunk-driving

George Best – imprisoned for drunk-driving and assaulting a police officer

Joey Barton – twice convicted for violent offences

Ian Wright – sentenced to 14 days in prison for failing to pay car insurance

Rene Higuita – imprisoned for kidnapping

Nizar Trabelsi – sentenced to 10 years in prison after plotting an attack on American soldiers

Duncan Ferguson – imprisoned for three months for headbutting an opponent

Jan Molby – imprisoned for three months for drunk-driving

Mickey Thomas – sentenced to 18 months in prison for money laundering

Peter Storey – twice imprisoned after retiring

Lee Hughes – sentenced to six years in prison after killing a passenger in a car accident

Stig Tofting – sentenced to four months in prison after headbutting a restaurant owner

The company was said to be hired under Jose Maria Bartomeu's reign as president of the club, which came to an end in October last year following a major fallout with Messi.

In September 2020, police reportedly ruled that there was corruption involved in Barca issuing payments to I3 Ventures, with seven senior figures on the Barcelona board leaving the club amid the controversial affair. Two criminal cases – for illegal administration and individual cases of corruption – are being investigated.

It has since been claimed that the former club chief has been arrested by police.