Barcelona ends contract with company accused of fake posts

By: The Associated Press Posted: 10:51 AM CST Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020

BARCELONA, Spain - Barcelona has ended its contract with a company that made negative comments on social media about people within the club.

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BARCELONA, Spain - Barcelona has ended its contract with a company that made negative comments on social media about people within the club.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/02/2020 (2422 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BARCELONA, Spain – Barcelona has ended its contract with a company that made negative comments on social media about people within the club.

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu said Tuesday the decision was made after the club found out that one of its service providers used an account to make “inadequate” comments about people in the club. He did not name the company nor give any detail about the comments.

Bartomeu reiterated the club’s denial of accusations it hired a company to make negative comments about its own players and opponents on social media in order to boost the image of senior club officials.

Soccer coach Quique Setien poses with FC Barcelona's President Josep Maria Bartomeu, center, and director of football Eric Abidal, right, while being officially introduced as the club's new coach at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. Barcelona made a rare coaching change midway through the season, replacing Ernesto Valverde with former Real Betis manager Quique Setien on Monday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The Cadena Ser radio network said Monday a company used fake social media accounts to discredit opposition figures and some of Barcelona’s players when they expressed views that went against the club. Cadena Ser said some of the figures included star players Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué as well as former coach Pep Guardiola.

Bartomeu said other companies will continue to monitor social media on behalf of the club.

“It’s the responsibility of the club to know what is said on social media around the world,” he said. “But the club has never contracted services to discredit anyone, and we will do whatever is needed to defend ourselves from such accusations.”