Laport admits receiving Uzbekistan payments

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta testified in court yesterday that his legal firm had received over 10 million euros from Swiss-registered Uzbekistan conglomerate Zeromax.

However, he denied the money had – as has been claimed by Turkish football agent Bayram Tutumlu – been for illegal commissions for services provided by Barcelona to several football clubs in Uzbekistan, including FC Bunyodkor.

Laporta has been charged with alleged financial irregularities in his dealing with the football clubs.

Tutumlu said the illegal commissions were deposited in a Swiss bank account belonging to Laporta’s law firm, Laporta & Arbos. Laporta, who claimed he was the victim of a political plot orchestrated by the present Barca incumbent Sandro Rosell, also admitted he had met Tutumlu after previously denying ever coming across him.

“The invoices to Zeromax were for different services and consultancies over a period of three years,” testfied Lapprta.

“I have never done a deal with Tutumlu, I met with him on two occasions, out of politeness. I had already been warned that he was an opportunist who liked intrigue and it is exactly what he did.”