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Barcelona SC President Antonio Álvarez Resigns Amid Money Laundering Probe
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Barcelona SC President Antonio Álvarez Resigns Amid Money Laundering Probe

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Antonio Álvarez resigned as president of Barcelona, an Ecuadorian football club, amid a judicial investigation into alleged money laundering.
  • The club faces pressure and difficulties that hinder its normal operations, according to Álvarez's resignation statement.
  • Álvarez's departure aims to allow the club to operate with tranquility and regain its competitive path, while the team also faces scrutiny over recent poor results and a potential player eligibility issue.

Antonio Álvarez has resigned as president of the Ecuadorian football club Barcelona, citing the immense pressure and "suffocation" the club has faced. In a statement posted on social media, Álvarez explained that the club's current situation prevents it from operating with the normalcy its stature deserves.

In the last few weeks, the club has had to face a level of pressure and suffocation that prevents it from operating with the normalcy that an institution of its greatness deserves. No Barcelona supporter can feel comfortable when the club becomes the main victim of disputes that end up distancing it from its true purpose: competing, growing, and surpassing itself.

— Antonio ÁlvarezIn his resignation statement explaining the club's difficult situation.

Álvarez stated that no Barcelona supporter can be comfortable when the club becomes entangled in disputes that distract from its core purpose of competing and growing. He emphasized that Barcelona is always greater than any individual, including its president, and that his resignation is a necessary sacrifice to allow the club to "breathe again" and return to its desired path.

The club is currently fifth in the league, far from the title race, and facing fan discontent over poor performance under coach César Farías. Barcelona also awaits a decision from the Ecuadorian Football Federation regarding its potential advancement in the Copa Ecuador, due to a player eligibility question.

I do so convinced that if my departure contributes to the club being able to breathe again, operate with tranquility, and regain the path we all want, then it is the sacrifice that must be made.

— Antonio ÁlvarezExplaining his decision to step down as president.

Álvarez's presidency, which began in December 2023, was marked by initial challenges in gaining recognition from the Ministry of Sport. His leadership was ultimately ratified in May 2024. However, he and his brothers Aquiles and Xavier are implicated in a money laundering case known as 'Goleada,' linked to their family's fuel business. While initially detained, a court changed their pre-trial detention to conditional release in April. Antonio and Xavier were released, but Aquiles remains in maximum security prison due to other cases.

Barcelona will always be above any name, including the president.

— Antonio ÁlvarezStating his belief in the club's primacy over individual leaders.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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