Joan Laporta faces growing discontent among Barcelona members amid ongoing complaints over club management and financial decisions.
With Barcelona already under the microscope for their fragile finances, complex sponsorship structures, and controversial sporting decisions, the build-up to the presidential race was meant to showcase stability and continuity.
Instead, a new off-field storm has erupted from within the membership itself, threatening to drag the campaign into a judicial and political minefield at the worst possible moment for Laporta.
A Barcelona socio has formally filed a complaint against Laporta and several board members in Spain’s National Court (Audiencia Nacional), accusing them of money laundering, tax fraud, document falsification, mismanagement, and even participation in a criminal organisation.
The complaint, revealed by Diario Sport, alleges the existence of a network of companies across Spain, Cyprus, Dubai, Croatia, and Estonia used to channel “undue commissions” tied to major club operations, including the Nike sponsorship and the Camp Nou redevelopment project.
One transaction highlighted is a €28 million payment from New Era Visionary Group, sent from Dubai to Barcelona in January, which the complaint claims was not a simple external investment but a structure promoted by Laporta himself to move money through multiple jurisdictions.
For now, the National Court must decide whether to admit the complaint and open a formal investigation or shelve the case for lack of sufficient grounds.
If accepted, Laporta and other directors could face a high-profile probe in the middle of the electoral race, potentially damaging his public image at a delicate moment—even before any facts are proven.
The club and Laporta have not issued detailed public responses beyond previously denying systemic wrongdoing around financial operations.
Laporta remains one of the favourites to win the presidency, but this move from within the club’s own membership base underlines growing internal mistrust.
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