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Josep Maria Bartomeu has been arrested by Spanish police for his involvement in the 'Barcagate' smear campaign scandal during his time as their club president.

Bartomeu is one of four people to have been arrested so far, with Barcelona's CEO Oscar Grau and head of legal services Roman Gomez Ponti two of those. Jaume Masferrer who acted as an adviser to Bartomeu is the other.

On Monday morning, Spanish police entered Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium in a search and seize operation.

 Spanish media said the operation was related to last year's 'Barcagate,' in which club officials were accused of launching a smear campaign against current and former players who were critical of the club and then-president Bartomeu. 

Last September, it was reported that the Catalan police had filed a report to the judge investigating Barcelona's hiring of social media consultancy I3 Ventures and 'possible economic crimes'