Barcelona have rejected reports that members of the board are using club credit cards to enjoy a life of luxury at the expense of the members.
Twelve days ago, an article in Sport claimed that the club credit cards were ’emitting smoke’, due to the use of them for expenses that are not exactly essential. That article notes that it doesn’t exactly tally with the cuts and austerity measures in place elsewhere around the club.
That article goes on to say that when former President Sandro Rosell was in charge, he took away the company cards for directors, and did not use private cars at the club’s expense, except when obligated.
As part of their right to response, Sport have published a note from the club, which claims that no members of the board have a personal visa card being billed to the club. They also remind that the internal departments of the club have the club visa cards under close supervision.
It is not the first time reports have appeared regarding the spending of club funds for perks of the job. Often club business tends to be conducted in the Via Veneto restaurant in a wealthy area of Barcelona, with food and wine paid at premium in the steak joint. The comparison between Rosell and current President Joan Laporta picks at a deep wound in Barcelona club politics which has defined the entity for the past two decades.
Official note:
FC Barcelona would like to record that under the mandate of the present Board of Directors, there is no director or executive who has any VISA card in their name, nor at their disposal. Furthermore, the VISA cards that exist in the club are perfectly controlled and supervised by the club’s internal departments and, in no case, are they overused. In fact, its usage policies are in line with the savings and austerity that FC Barcelona currently follows.
