The Spanish club had confirmed having used a communication company to play on the image of the club but denied having wanted to tarnish the reputation of its own players.
The accusations made by Médiapart against Paris SG on the creation of accounts on social networks in order to smear certain people are strangely reminiscent of a precedent involving FC Barcelona in 2020. At the time, radio Ser Catalunya claimed that the Spanish club had used the services of a communication company, I3 Ventures, to also play on the image of the institution on the digital media.
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A common practice, except that the Spanish media had revealed that fake accounts had been created to speak ill of opponents like Victor Font, who was running for the presidency of the club, and also to tarnish the image of several players and emblematic personalities Messi, Gerard Pique, Xavi, Carles Puyol or even Pep Guardiola. A way of influencing public opinion by supporting the policy pursued by management. Screenshots of publications had been made supporting this thesis (see below).
Jaume Masferrer, adviser to Josep Maria Bartomeu, president between 2015 and 2020, had, according to the Being Chain, made sure to sign six contracts (for a total of around one million euros) with the company without going through the shareholders. The goal ? Conduct a campaign to support the current presidency and its board of directors, but also send clear messages to Internet users. Were targeted in particular, Lionel Messi, dragging his feet to renew his contract or Gerard Piqué and his peripheral activities, in particular the organization of the new Davis Cup.
Barça had admitted having called on the company I3 Ventures with the aim of monitoring social networks to learn of positive or negative messages concerning him. But the Catalan club had denied any intention to damage the image of anyone within the club by relying on fake accounts with “negative or contemptuous” content.
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