History of Barçagate in Timeline
Barçagate, revealed in February 2020, involved FC Barcelona allegedly hiring I3 Ventures to run a defamation campaign on social media. This campaign aimed to protect then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu's image and attack various figures associated with the club, including players like Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué, former players such as Xavi and Carles Puyol, and even coach Pep Guardiola. The campaign also targeted political figures and pro-independence organizations, such as Quim Torra, Carles Puigdemont, Òmnium Cultural and Assemblea Nacional Catalana. The scandal led to significant controversy and contributed to the eventual resignation of Bartomeu and his board.
2017: Contract with I3 Ventures Started
In 2017, FC Barcelona entered into a contract with I3 Ventures to monitor information published about the club on social media.
February 2020: Barçagate Uncovered
In February 2020, journalists Adrià Soldevila and Sergi Escudero of Cadena SER uncovered the I3 Ventures case, also known as Barçagate. This case involved FC Barcelona allegedly hiring I3Ventures.sl to conduct a defamation campaign on social media, creating states of opinion through unofficial accounts to protect Josep Maria Bartomeu's image while attacking various individuals and organizations associated with the club.
March 2021: Club Offices Raided and Arrests Made
On March 1, 2021, Catalan police raided FC Barcelona's offices as part of the Barçagate investigation. Josep Maria Bartomeu, along with his advisor Jaume Masferrer, CEO Oscar Grau, and head of legal services Roman Gomez Ponti, were arrested. Bartomeu admitted to hiring I3 Ventures to improve Barcelona's image on social media but denied intending to damage individuals' reputations. The social media company had earned 980,000 euros for the campaign.
