Club legends Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique revealed as key targets of I3 Ventures

It was certainly a second of uncertainty and precariousness when native police arrived at Camp Nou to research the purported Barcagate on Monday. Later, it was confirmed that former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu was arrested for the social media scandal involving I3 Ventures. The previous president is alleged to have employed a social media firm to tarnish the picture and fame of among the greatest membership superstars, together with Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique. 

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Barcelona president arrested: Barcagate targetted Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique?

Messi and Pique had been at loggerheads with the Barcelona administration led by Bartomeu. The Argentine ahead was on the verge of leaving the Blaugrana when he despatched a letter demanding his switch, now often called the ‘Burofax Saga’, just for Bartomeu to veto his exit. Pique too has been essential of the membership’s switch actions over the last few seasons. 

And in keeping with Spanish media publication AS, the 2 membership legends have been the important thing targets of Bartomeu. The previous president employed I3 Ventures, a social media firm with the intention of maligning the picture and fame of Messi and Pique on social media. Apparently, former midfielder Xavi Hernandez was additionally among the many targets.

The Barcagate row first got here to mild final 12 months, following which Bartomeu determined to step down. Pique had then demanded accountability from the president over the allegations. The previous Manchester United defender had claimed that it was outrageous on a part of the membership to spend cash on criticising its personal gamers. 

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What’s Barcagate row which landed Bartomeu behind bars?

In a later interview, Pique had revealed that he spoke to the president concerning the allegations. However the then-president prompt his innocence, denying any wrongdoing and the defender believed in him. However progressive investigation means that the person on the helm on the highest workplace at Camp Nou was the important thing conspirator behind the scandal. 

Apparently, I3 Ventures have been additionally tasked with the accountability of sustaining Barcelona’s social media accounts. However their contract was terminated after allegations got here to the fore final 12 months. In the meantime, an exterior audit carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers claimed that the membership had executed no flawed nor did they pay an inflated value for I3’s providers. Regardless of the clearance, the native police determined to proceed with the investigation. 

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Barcelona’s official assertion on present disaster 

Barcelona launched an official assertion following the search at Camp Nou and the following arrest of Bartomeu. It learn, “Relating to the entry and search by the Catalan Police drive this morning on the Camp Nou places of work by order of the Instructing Court docket quantity 13 in Barcelona, which is answerable for the case referring to the contacting of monitoring providers on social networks, FC Barcelona have supplied up their full collaboration to the authorized and police authorities to assist clarify information that are topic to investigation.”

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Picture courtesy: Barcelona Twitter