Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu "reviewed the club's recent season and current situation," according to Juan I. Irigoyen of EL PAIS. Bartomeu: "It has been a year full of contrasts, of off-field controversies and institutional changes. Sporting disappointments and and some sad news, some were predictable but others unfair and unexpected. There have also been good aspects, like the social and economic. ... That Barça has been able to overcome a year like this is proof of the administration's maturity." Of the club's signing of Neymar, Bartomeu said, "We are very calm, because we believe that things were done right. The truth will benefit Barcelona. The member's accusation was for diversion of funds and this case is dead." Addressing the currently suspended ban on signing players imposed by FIFA in April for "allegedly breaking int'l transfer regulations," Bartomeu said, "We would like to know who made this accusation, but first I would like to solve our problem with FIFA" (EL PAIS, 7/2).
MEETING WITH FIFA: In Madrid, Llorens & Alba reported Barcelona will appear in Zurich on Aug. 19 to explain to FIFA the reasons for the int'l transfers that led to the ban, "including that of South Korean Seung Woo Lee." An "anonymous complaint set off a process taking shape since months ago, when FIFA imposed its harsh punishment on the club." Bartomeu: "We are carrying out an investigation to discover who made the accusation. We want to reach the bottom of this matter, but we do have some suspects" (AS, 7/2).
