BarcelonaFour days before one of the most important assemblies in the recent history of Barça, where accounts with millionaire losses of almost 500 million have to be approved, former president Josep Maria Bartomeu wanted to have his say. In a letter -signed by the executives who accompanied him from the first to the last day of his term, between 2014 and 2020-, he questions the economic criteria used by the due diligence when assessing his work at the helm of the club. For Bartomeu, the impact of covid-19 on Barça’s coffers was 225 million – and not 91, as defended by the current board chaired by Joan Laporta. He also points out that much of the losses from the previous year are due to “provisions and impairments that the League describes as atypical” and adds that, in his view, the economic results are the sole responsibility of the board that closes the year. . Finally, he says that “at no time has the club been at risk of liquidation or dissolution.”
The document, which uses technical and legal arguments to justify each of the points, begins with the protection of Royal Decree 1162/2020 on how to calculate the impact of covid on a club. According to the text, the best way is to compare it with the course immediately preceding the pandemic (2018/2019). According to this, the revenues of the Camp Nou fell by 187 million, the commercial by 57, in the average section 16 million and 70 more were stopped entering by the impossibility to sell players. Of these 330, there are still 105 cost reductions – for example, the cost of opening the field to the public on a match day – which is also less than the 125 calculated by Laporta’s board. The result is the 225 million impact of the pandemic, according to Bartomeu’s calculations.
Discrepancy with losses
The current board has not yet announced any possible criminal action against Bartomeu and his board, pending the determination of the forensic analyst who analyzes the former president’s management. But after the appearance of CEO Ferran Reverter, who described Bartomeu’s work at the Camp Nou as “negligent and improvised”, he decided to explain his version of events. The letter clarifies the 263 million provided by the board, 79 of which correspond to litigation and 24 to a non-payment with Nike that is already being negotiated. As it highlights the 160 million impairment loss for some players. A “legitimate but atypical” decision.
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