National Court rejects complaint against Laporta, points case to Barcelona | OneFootball

Judge Santiago Pedraz of the National Court has rejected a complaint by a Barcelona member against former president and re-election candidate Joan Laporta and his former board over alleged offences including money laundering. The ruling means the complainant must refile in Barcelona if he wants the case examined.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Pedraz backed the prosecutor’s view that the court lacks jurisdiction because the alleged crimes were not committed entirely abroad, and he did not assess whether the offences occurred.

The complaint outlines an alleged overseas structure with companies in Cyprus and Dubai, as well as operations in Barcelona, the club’s home city. Supreme Court doctrine says Madrid’s central investigating courts are competent only when an offence is committed wholly abroad.

Pedraz noted alleged crimes including criminal organisation, falsification of documents and mismanagement, which he said have an evident territorial link to Barcelona. He added that laundering and document falsity would stem from those acts. Laporta and Barcelona have denied the accusations.

The accusation highlights five key operations, the sale of digital assets Barça Visión/Bridgeburg Invest said to harm the club, the no-tender award of Camp Nou telecommunications to New Era Visionary Group, the purchase of luxury seats from the same company, the award of the new stadium build, and an alleged intermediary payment in the renewal of the Nike sponsorship. It also alleges tax fraud.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo