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FC Barcelona has issued an official statement in response to reports that the club’s offices were raided by local police and that former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, along with several high-ranking officials, were detained.
The statement says, in its entirety:
Regarding the entry and registration by the Catalan Police this morning at the Camp Nou offices by order of the Court of Instruction number 13 of Barcelona, which is in charge of the case related to the contacting of the surveillance services On social networks, FC Barcelona has offered its full collaboration with the judicial and police authorities to help clarify events that are subject to investigation.
The information and documentation requested by the judicial police is strictly related to the facts of this case.
FC Barcelona expresses its utmost respect for the judicial process in force and for the principle of presumed innocence of the persons affected in the scope of this investigation.
Bartomeu himself is not expected to speak about the matter until tomorrow, before a judge.
Reactions from important people in the club’s political arena are pouring in.
A candidate for the presidency, Víctor Font, weighed in saying “logically, it is a sad day for Barcelona because it affects the reputation of the club as an institution.”
One of his opponents, Joan Laporta, said: “Although he did not have a good administration, he has still been president of FC Barcelona and it is news that is not pleasant for anyone. The truth is that it is shocking news, without a doubt ”.
Another former club president, Joan Gaspart, said: “I am sure Bartomeu is not worried because he has done nothing wrong.”
Enric Masip, a key man in the Laporta campaign, continued by saying: “We have four years since we left one problem and entered another. The mismanagement is such that the police come in and there is not even time to go to give a press conference ”.
