Former Barcelona President Sandro Rosell and current VP Javier Faus gave testimony on Monday as part of MCM's €100M ($112M) lawsuit against the club, according to MARCA. The firm is suing for "breach of contract" relating to a supposed deal to pursue advertising on the facade of La Masia, which has "never come to fruition." The club denies "having ever received a detailed advertising proposal from the company and claims that it immediately broke off the agreement when it found out that MCM was negotiating with rivals of Barça's main sponsors." Faus called such an idea "unfeasible." Rosell labeled MCM's suit "absurd," branding the €100M in damages being sought "hugely exorbitant" (MARCA, 3/2). In Madrid, Moisés Llorens reported it "came to light" that the building's facade presented "serious deficiencies, which could have put 'residents or workers in danger,'" according to Barcelona Board of Directors Secretary Jordi Moix. Moix admitted during the proceedings that two, four or "even six" glass panels of one by two meters, and "weighing a considerable amount," had fallen from the facade. Moix: "We didn't announce it ... for obvious reasons." The club was forced to "cordon off the zone to avoid anybody being hurt." Former Barcelona GM Antoni Rossich confirmed what had happened, as did Rosell (AS, 3/2).
ON HOLD: Also in Madrid, Santi Giménez reported former Barcelona President Joan Laporta's testimony in the judicial trial "has been put on hold" after Laporta asked the court to be allowed to give his declarations in Catalan. The judge decided to "hire an interpreter and suspend the trial" until Tuesday, a decision which "enraged Laporta." Laporta: "My right is to speak in the language of my country but I respect the Spanish language. I arrived at 9:00 waiting and it is almost three in the afternoon" (AS, 3/2).
