Spanish newspaper El Peridico claims that FC Barcelona hired a detective bureau to investigate four possible candidates for the presidental election. In 2010 Joan Laporta has controlled Barcelona as president for eight years, and as such he cannot participate in another round of elections, as a Barca president is limited to two terms of tenure. FC Barcelona wanted to find a perfect candidate within the club, and according to El Periodico they have investigated:

Rafael Yuste: He became a member of the board in November 2005. Current vice-president regarding sporting matters, he also works with the football section below the first team.  Last summer he got promoted and negotiated contracts after Guardiola and Txiki wishes.

Joan Franquesa: Joan became a member of the board after the first crisis in 2004-05 when Sandro Rosell and 4 other board memebers resigned. He has responsibility for the institutional area and Barca’s properties. He is a jurist and former politician. His current work is to get permission to build apartments on the Miniestadi.

Jaume Ferrer (pictured): He is the only remaining vice-president along with Alfons Godall, that has been in the board since Laporta won the election in 2003. Ferrer have control over the marketing and media.

Joan Boix: Member of the board since 2006 and replaced Ferran Soriano as vice-president in economic matters. He controlled the clubs money last year with green numbers despite  the fact that they had to pay 39 millinos Euro’s in bonuses.

El Periodico’s source claims that Joan Laporta, and three of the investigated possible candidates did not know anything about this. The mastermind behind everything, is thought to be FC Barcelona’s director general Joan Oliver. The intention behind the bad deed, was however good, as they were searching for the best possible candidate for the job.

One of the vice-presidents agreed to let them keep a watch over his life, while the other three were not asked. The investigation was done by the Catalan investigation bureau Metodo 3. In the end, one of the vice-presidents found out that he was being investigated and informed the others. Laporta was then asked about an explanation, but he did not know anything about it..

This would severely damage the clubs reputation, if true.  For the moment, the club and the involved people are trying to keep the fuss to a minimum.