Former FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta was accused by the current Barcelona board of putting Barcelona in approximately 47 million euros of debt throughout his time with the club. He was also accused of changing the numbers in the financial sheets to hide this fact and to make it look as if he in-fact increased their financial standing.
After being cleared of these false charges, Joan Laporta turned the tables and claimed that it is the new administration that should be ashamed, for they are making false accusations and making questionable business decisions. He even goes as far as to suggest that FC Barcelona wants to appear impoverished and in the need of financial aid so that they can better justify their sponsorship with Qatar.
Suing former Presidents on false pretenses, embellishing financial records for a public image, slandering the new board of ones old club? None of these things sound like they are in the spirit and love of sport and of ones Club. Rather, they sound greedy and manipulative which are the characteristics of a cutthroat business.
Hearing about things like this and about the absurd amount of money that players and clubs are already making, and how they want MORE, detaches fans from the club and makes them feel that the organization only cares about the Business side of things.
How do events like this shape your view of sport? How about this case in particular? Comment below.
source: http://www.espnfc.com/barcelona/story/2118061/ex-barcelona-president-joan-laporta-wont-rule-out-return-to-board
FC Barcelona: Club or Business? 