Rosell, Messi, Cesc, Iniesta, Puyol and Eto'o will go to state • The trial, on 26 October
Yesterday was held at the Court of First Instance No. 10 the previous hearing of the lawsuit brought by Bayren Tutumlu against Joan Laporta and his law firm for alleged non-payment of some commissions from the brokerage business of the former president of the Barcelona club Bunyodkor Uzbek football.
At the same there was no agreement between the parties as we proceeded to the admission of evidence and witnesses for trial. Pepe Oriola, Tutumlu lawyer, asked the judge to summon witnesses to five players (Messi, Iniesta, Cesc, Puyol and Eto'o) who gave a series of clinics in Uzbekistan. It has also been subpoenaed to testify Sandro Rosell to verify the business that signed the Barcelona Bunyodkor during the term of Laporta.
The purpose of citing these people is also to verify the business that made Laporta determine the total amount of such claims as Tutumlu 10% of the total amount as commission.
Other people involved in sport will also have to testify. Txiki Begiristain will at the request of attorney Laporta. Ana Xicoy, former director general of Barcelona, and Agustí Benedito, candidate for the presidency of Barcelona in 2010, have also been cited after they left their positions in the club for not agreeing with business between the club Barca and Laporta.
The judge also authorized the investigation of bank accounts Laporta and his law firm to see if there were transfers from various companies related to Bunyodkor to demonstrate the existence of such business, and determine an alleged money laundering after proceedings brought in this respect by a court in Barcelona. Tutumlu says Laporta's office received a transfer of 3 million euros from the Swiss company Zeromax in June 2008.
The judge set the trial for October 26 at 9:30 in the morning. It will be a public hearing so all the media can follow the statements of witnesses.