Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell ‘arrested after being accused of laundering £13million’ in deal over TV rights over Brazil national team
- He was forced to step down after Neymar deal
- Nine houses and offices raided
- Part of US-led investigation into Fifa
FORMER Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has been arrested as part of a money-laundering investigation, according to reports in Spain.
Catalonian police have raided nine homes and offices in the north-eastern part of the region.
It is understood the arrested are related to sales in Brazil.
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report the arrests are part of a joint-operation between the FBI and a Spanish police.
And it is linked to the United States-led investigation into corruption at Fifa.
Rosell and wife are accused of laundering around £13million following a deal over TV rights for the Brazil national team.
He was Barcelona president from 2010 to 2014, but was forced to resign from his position after a Spanish court decided to look into the signing of Neymar from Santos 12 months earlier.
The Brazilian superstar has since been ordered to stand trial after being accused of fraud.
And, in June 2016, Barcelona paid a fine of £4.7million over Neymar’s transfer.
Rosell was elected following the hugely-successful Joan Laporta era.
Laporta had overseen the club’s transformation from Champions League qualification hopefuls to Europe’s best team.
He sanctioned a deal to bring in Ronaldinho and promoted Pep Guardiola from youth team coach to first team manager in 2009.
Rosell carried on Laporta’s success on the pitch with a La Liga and Champions League double in his first season.