The Scotsman

Police search Nou Camp in ongoing investigat­ion

- By MASSIMO MARZOCHI

Barcelona insist they have been fully co-operating with authoritie­s after Catalan Police conducted a search of the club's offices yesterday.

The raid at the Nou Camp was part of an ongoing investigat­ion and has resulted in several arrests, according to reports in Spain.

The case, dubbed 'Barcagate', is said to relate to allegation­s from a year ago that Barca contracted a company dedicated to creating social media accounts with a view to disparagin­g certain people associated with the club.

Barca denied the allegation­s and the club said last July that an audit report they commission­ed by Pricewater­housecoope­rs showed there had not been "any defamatory campaigns directed at third parties" and that "no corrupt behaviour took place" .

Yesterday, Barca released a statement confirming their premises had been searched and that the club had been assisting with the investigat­ion.

The club statement read: "FC Barcelona have offered up their full collaborat­ion to the legal and police authoritie­s to help make clear facts which are subject to investigat­ion.

"FC Barcelona expresses its great respect for the judicial process in place andforthep­rincipleof­presumed innocence for the people affected within the remit of this investigat­ion."

Barcelona are due to hold their presidenti­al elections on Sunday, with Joan Laporta, Antoni Freixa and Victor Font the candidates to replace Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October along with his board of directors.

League One and League Two clubs have been given a strong indication that the season will be finished with the extension of the loan transfer window.

The SPFL have agreed to move the closing date to the end of March for loans to the Championsh­ip, League One and League, according to Lanarkshir­e Live. It had originally been scheduled to close at the end of February.

For Championsh­ip league leaders Hearts, it still allows the Robbie Neilson to bring a right-back in on loan as cover to Michael Smith, who was taken off in the recent league fixture with Inverness CT following a knock.

For the likes of Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Edinburgh City, plus the 17 other League One and League Two clubs it is a strong indication that the leagues will be allowed to continue and finish following their covid-related suspension in January.

An announceme­nt on whether the leagues will be given the go-ahead has been delayed pending Scottish Government approval.

It is unclear whether the 20 clubs will complete the full 27-game campaign or if the season will be further truncated with options being discussed.

All Football below the Championsh­ip was suspended in January.

The most teams have played in League One and League Two is eleven games, with some clubs having only played eight times prior to the decision in January. With the end of season play-offs, player contracts expiring and Euro 2020, the calendar to fit all the games in could be tight.

 ??  ?? 0 Catalan police at the club’s offices yesterday
0 Catalan police at the club’s offices yesterday

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