Josep Maria Bartomeu Floreta (born 6 February 1963) is a Spanish entrepreneur and former president of FC Barcelona. He started his presidency in 2014, following the resignation of Sandro Rosell; he held the post until his resignation in 2020. He was replaced by interim Barcelona president Carlos Tusquets, and afterwards by election winner Joan Laporta.
Contents
Career
Partner and CEO of the companies ADELTE and EFS, Bartomeu served on the board of Barcelona during Joan Laporta's presidency (as head of the basketball section) along with Sandro Rosell, who resigned due to differences with the then president. He then served as Rosell's vice-president of Barcelona from July 2010 to January 2014 after they won the election with 61.35% of the vote of the members of the club. Following the resignation of Sandro Rosell on 23 January 2014, due to the so-called "Neymar case", Bartomeu was, following the club's constitution, elected, as the fortieth President of Barcelona, to complete Rosell's term.
On 27 October 2020, Bartomeu announced his resignation, along with the entire board of directors.
Tax fraud allegations
Bartomeu was investigated in a case of alleged tax fraud over the signing of forward Neymar, along with former president Sandro Rosell. He was set to stand trial after his appeal was rejected. After a further appeal, it was reported that Bartomeu would not stand trial over the allegations; Rosell and Barcelona were similarly cleared. The thorough research at the Camp Nou offices on Monday morning, carried out by the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalonia police force), led to the arrest of Bartomeu, alongside the chief executive officer of the club, Oscar Grau, former adviser to the presidency Jaume Masferrer, and head of legal counsel Roman Gomez Ponti.
Controversy
In March 2021, he was investigated by Catalan police, due to an alleged defamation campaign against Barcelona, known as Barçagate. Bartomeu was accused of hiring I3 Ventures to improve the club's image on social media and was accused of launching a smear campaign against some of the club's star players.
Trophies won by club during presidency
Football
Barcelona:
La Liga:
2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
Copa del Rey:
2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
Supercopa de España:
2016, 2018
UEFA Champions League:
2014–15
UEFA Super Cup:
2015
FIFA Club World Cup:
2015
Barcelona Femení:
Primera División (women):
2013–14, 2014–15, 2019–20
Copa de la Reina de Fútbol:
2014, 2017
Futsal
Barcelona Futsal:
Primera División:
2018–19
Copa del Rey de Futsal:
2013–14
Copa de España (LNFS):
2019
UEFA Futsal Cup:
2013–14
Beach soccer
Barcelona Beach Soccer:
Mundialito de Clubes:
2015
Basketball
Barcelona Basketball:
Liga ACB:
2013–14
Copa del Rey de Baloncesto:
2018, 2019
Supercopa de España de Baloncesto:
2015
Handball
Barcelona Handbol:
Liga ASOBAL:
2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
Copa del Rey de Balonmano:
2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
Copa ASOBAL:
2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
Supercopa ASOBAL:
2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–2018, 2018–19
EHF Champions League:
2014–15
IHF Men's Super Globe:
2014, 2017, 2018, 2019
Roller hockey
Barcelona Roller Hockey:
OK Liga:
2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
Copa del Rey de Hockey Patines:
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Supercopa de España de Hockey Patines:
2014, 2015, 2017
CERH European League:
2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18
CERH Continental Cup:
2015, 2018
Roller Hockey Intercontinental Cup:
2014, 2018
Ice hockey
Barcelona Ice Hockey:
Spanish ice hockey cups:
2014–15, 2018–19