Josep María Bartomeu, the former president of FC Barcelona, presented a concise summary to Barcelona’s 13th Court of Instruction, which handles the alleged grounds of the case. The document argues that no payments were made to journalists to defend his administration publicly.
In the summary of the allegations released by EFE, the former Barça president’s defense expresses disappointment. A report added to the Barçagate dossier by Mossos d’Esquadra concluded that some journalists were paid by the club at Bartomeu’s direction.
The report states that Mossos d’Esquadra discovered falsified invoices used to divert funds to journalists chosen by Bartomeu and that on several occasions Bartomeu instructed third party companies to disburse payments to journalists.
The defense argues that the claims are mere assumptions and have not been validated even by the journalists involved, reaching only the level of suspicion. It notes that the news generated a response not only in the media but also on social networks, infringing on privacy and harming Bartomeu’s reputation and honor.
The letter emphasizes that facts initially deemed inconclusive later appeared to take on a life of their own, persisting in the public eye as if they were true. The defense therefore asserts that briefing material has favored a narrative that does not reflect reality.
It is stated that Bartomeu’s side categorically rejects the Mossos d’Esquadra report, which allegedly shows payments to journalists for purposes linked to Barcelona’s image management. The defense also notes that FC Barcelona, like any large football club, engages with multiple communications agencies and external contractors as part of its professional operations.
Finally, the defense asks the judge to issue a warning to Mossos d’Esquadra to refrain from leaking any portions of the summary to the media and to halt such acts. The document argues that unsourced or decontextualized conversations can lead to outcomes that are not legally justified, potentially skewing the parties’ rights under judicial scrutiny.
The defense portrays Bartomeu as highly exposed to the allegations and contends that he should be granted access to all seized materials so he can present a full defense. This request aims to ensure due process and enable a complete examination of the evidence before any conclusions are drawn.
Mossos d’Esquadra’s reports assert that indirect payments to journalists were routed through third party companies, a mechanism used to support the club’s online reputation and to counter competitors in the digital sphere.
In its conclusions, Mossos d’Esquadra suggests that the described actions could amount to alleged crimes related to unfair administration and corruption among individuals, signaling potential legal consequences if proven in court.