Barça Presidential Hopefuls Pile In On Laporta After Money Laundering Complaint
Three Barça pre-candidates have hit out at Joan Laporta following a complaint alleging money laundering and improper commissions against the president.
Three men who want Joan Laporta’s job have wasted absolutely no time making their feelings known after a complaint was filed against the Barça president and members of his former board, alleging money laundering and improper commissions.
What’s Going On?
A club member filed a complaint — published by El Periódico — against Laporta and certain individuals from his previous board over alleged financial irregularities. It didn’t take long for the pre-candidates circling the Camp Nou throne to weigh in.
Font: “This Is Exactly What We’ve Been Saying”
Víctor Font, the man behind the Nosaltres platform, was first out the traps. Speaking on Catalunya Ràdio, he said he wasn’t exactly gobsmacked by the accusations — apparently this kind of thing has been floating around in whispers for a while. What did surprise him, though, was seeing it formalised as an actual legal complaint.
His main gripe? Transparency — or the lack of it. Font made clear that hiding behind confidentiality clauses is, in his words, “inaceptable” — and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that. When a football club starts looking more like a courtroom drama than a sporting institution, something’s gone proper wrong.
Vilajoana: The Strongest Words Yet
Xavier Vilajoana, another former club director, used the launch of his own economic project as the backdrop to deliver what might’ve been the sharpest takedown of the lot. Key points from his statement:
- He called for a full ethics, transparency, and anti-corruption commission at the club
- He argued that no president, however democratically elected, has a blank cheque to do as they please
- He warned that if the allegations are confirmed, this could rank among the most serious episodes in Barça’s entire history
- He stressed that members have every right to know where every single euro goes — it’s their club, after all
Vilajoana’s tone was measured but firm. No theatrics, just a bloke who clearly thinks the place needs a serious clean-up.
Ciria: Hoping For the Best
Marc Ciria, leading the Moviment 42 platform, took a slightly different angle. He said he’s fed up with the constant back-and-forth between Barça and the courts, and his priority is making sure the club’s reputation doesn’t take a battering. He also pointed out that one of Laporta’s first moves upon returning to the presidency was to change the club’s own ethical code — make of that what you will.
The Bigger Picture
Look, whatever your feelings on Laporta, this is a messy situation for one of the biggest clubs on the planet. Three pre-candidates all singing from the same hymn sheet about transparency and accountability tells you something. Whether this complaint leads anywhere legally remains to be seen, but the optics aren’t great — and with presidential elections on the horizon, you can bet this story’s got legs.
Barça’s got enough on their plate on the pitch. The last thing they need is another legal saga dragging the club’s name through the mud.