Barca's lavish expenses called before the courts

Laporta: Lavish expenses

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta and his management team are to be called before the courts to explain why they approved accounts last year that saw a staggering annual loss of over £70 million for the club.

Among those pushing that action be taken is Laporta's former right-hand man Sandro Rosell, who was elected club president in July, and has become one of his predecessor's most outspoken critics.

Laporta and his team will be asked to explain certain payments, notably the £7 million paid to the agent of Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Barcelona's record signing at around £61 million, who signed for AC Milan during the summer...at a loss of around £32 million!

But, it is the lavish personal expenses and director's allowances which have irked Mr Laporta's critics most. They include:

• £4.9 million on private jets
• £2.32 million spying on directors, fans and journalists
• £504,000 a year on vol-au-vents
• £229,000 on restaurants
• £46,000 on the chauffeurs' credit card – for drinks, cigars and perfume

Barcelona is owned by more than 170,000 members who pay annual fees of £137, or about 15 percent of the club’s revenue. The president and club directors are elected by the members every four years and don’t receive a salary.