"We are willing, with the intervention of an international audit firm, which we will pay for, to carry out this determination, the result of which will be made public," the eight notable partners of Barcelona informed José Francisco Cevallos, then president of the yellow institution, on September 2nd, last year, through a letter.
Now, those who define themselves as "people connected, for decades, to a trajectory of service to Barcelona Sporting Club" are asking Cevallos' successor, Carlos Alfaro Moreno, and the financial vice president, Xavier Salem, to make public the result of the audit carried out by the PKF firm.
The lifetime president of Barcelona Jaime Nebot; the former presidents Isidro Romero (champion in 1985, 1991 and 1995, and finalist of the Copa Libertadores in 1990), José Tamariz (two-time champion 1980-1985), Nicolás Romero (took over after the strike in 1975), Julio Jurado, head of the Barcelona Astillero Association; as well as Santiago Salem, Juan José Vilaseca, and Esteban Amador, whose ancestors were notable directors of Barcelona, are the ones who covered the costs of the audit.
Eight months ago, they explained in their letter that "it is definitely important for our institution that its debt is evaluated and determined. Only from that fact will it be possible to propose, discuss, and adopt appropriate administrative and financial solutions to resolve the situation."
Last Tuesday, the eight notable Canarios informed Alfaro Moreno and Salem that they were "formally handing over the results of the audit carried out by the PKF firm, which aimed, among other things, to determine the total amount of Barcelona's debt with third parties, as of September 30, 2019."
It is added in the communication that was received 48 hours ago that: "Our selfless and free contribution allows us to urge you to disclose the results of the aforementioned audit to members and the general public, in order to maintain the transparency that we are sure your administration practices (that of Alfaro Moreno, who defeated Cevallos in the October 2019 elections)."
In the letter signed by Nebot, and copied to the other seven club partners, Alfaro Moreno and Salem are informed, in the central part, that "it should be mentioned that, according to the contract signed with PKF, there is the corresponding authorization for the result of this audit (to Barcelona) to be made public."
In December 2019, Cevallos said that Barcelona's debt was $22.5 million and that he took over the club with a deficit of $35 million in 2015, when he succeeded Antonio Noboa as president.
The confusion arose from the varied figures given by the leadership. In September 2018, El Comercio reported that Juan Alfredo Cuentas, the financial vice president, told them: "The 2016 audit showed $27 million in debt, plus $14 million in contingencies." But in March 2016, he assured that same newspaper that "it could reach $32 million."
Someone who had access to the PKF report and requested anonymity, told EL UNIVERSO that they are "very surprised by the results" of the audit. (D)