Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu denies paying for social media smear campaign

‘Barca has not contracted any services to disparage neither players, nor politicians, nor former presidents. It is completely false’

(AFP via Getty Images)

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has branded accusations of unethical practices on social media by the club as “completely false”.

A Spanish radio station claimed the LaLiga champions hired a social media firm to criticise key figures associated with the Catalonia side in a bid to protect Bartomeu’s reputation.

It was suggested I3 Ventures had been hired to publish stories that damaged the image of several players and ex-players, after they had criticised Bartomeu.

Barcelona denied any wrongdoing in a statement on Monday night, and according the club website Bartomeu said on Tuesday: “In (the) first place, and so that no one is left in any doubt, Barca has not contracted any services to disparage neither players, nor politicians, nor former presidents. It is completely false.

“We will defend ourselves wherever necessary via all means at our disposal against anyone who accuses (us) of such practices.”

Bartomeu did admit that one of the social media accounts linked to the company providing the service had made an inappropriate comment relating to figures within the club, and that instructions have since been given to end that contract.

He added: “To the question of whether we have requested monitoring services of social media, the reply is yes, and we will continue to do so.

“To the question of whether we have requested the disparagement of persons or organisations via social media, the answer is no, and we will pursue (those) who accuse of such.”

PA