Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, has found himself in the middle of some legal headaches over a €100,000 investment linked to projects involving Reus Deportiu (a lower league club in Catalonia)
and a football academy in China. The case has been making headlines since last year. Now, Laporta has finally addressed the accusations head-on.
The dispute centers on a woman who claims she was misled after investing in Core Store, based in Barcelona, and CSSB Limited in Hong Kong. Her complaint says she was promised returns tied to Reus’ promotion to Spain’s Segunda División and the launch of a youth academy inspired by La Masia. Initially, her complaint was dismissed, but the Barcelona Court of Appeal ordered an investigation that now involves Laporta, Barça vice president Rafa Yuste, former executive Xavier Sala i Martín, and ex-director Joan Oliver.
At a January 2026 court hearing, Laporta pushed back against the allegations. He insists he never signed any contracts related to the investments and had no personal relationship with the complainant. “I did not participate in the signing of the contracts on which the allegations of the events under investigation are based, as the complainant herself – whom I do not know – states in her complaint,” Laporta said. He noted that while his signature appears on one CSSB Limited document, it was strictly as a witness.
“I am not, nor have I ever been, a representative or agent of CSSB Ltd., and therefore, I have not signed – nor could I have signed – any contract on its behalf, nor have I authorized the receipt of funds intended for said company.”
Laporta expressed confidence that the investigation would clear him and reserved the right to take action against media coverage he considers biased or inaccurate. “I express my full confidence that very soon it will be resolved that I have not participated in any type of deception,” he added.
According to reports, the investor originally put in €120,000 but only received €20,000 back. The investments were presented as two linked opportunities: one to support Reus’ rise through the football divisions, and the other to create a Chinese academy that would exchange players with the club. The reports allege Laporta, Yuste, and other former Barcelona executives were heavily involved in pitching the projects.
