Former FC Barcelona president Bartomeu to appear in court over payment of commissions

Alsharq Tribune - M.Essam 

Former FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has been called to appear in court in October over payments of millions of euros in commissions for player signings during his time in charge.

Bartomeu is due in court on Oct. 24 in Barcelona to answer questions regarding the transfers of Antoine Griezmann and Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira, along with other transactions that the current board estimates cost the club around 30 million euros (about 35 million U.S. dollars).

The original complaint was filed around two years ago by current president Joan Laporta, based on a report from a private detective agency. Bartomeu's board was accused of dishonest administration, misappropriation of funds, and accounting fraud.

The complaint alleged that "commissions of 33 percent have been detected and there are companies that were created solely to invoice Barcelona," noting that the club paid about 10 million euros in commissions to sign Malcom, who made just 24 appearances before leaving for Zenit Saint Petersburg.

In addition, another lawyer reportedly received 1.7 million euros for closing the deal that brought Neymar to Barcelona in 2013.