Spain’s National Court has upheld the acquittal of former FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell on charges of money laundering, following an appeal by prosecutors after his initial acquittal in April.
Rosell, who spent 21 months in pre-trial detention, had been accused of laundering nearly €20 million ($23 million) related to television rights and sponsorship deals in Brazil. In April, the National Court cleared him, his wife, and four others, citing insufficient evidence to support the charges.
Despite the appeal, the court’s appeals chamber confirmed the earlier acquittal on Wednesday, solidifying Rosell’s legal victory.
The charges against Rosell were tied to allegations that he had helped launder funds for Ricardo Teixeira, the former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, related to television rights for Brazil’s friendly matches. Rosell had spent time living and working in Brazil, where he developed business connections.
Rosell also faced accusations of profiting from Nike’s sponsorship of the Brazilian national team, though these claims were similarly unproven.
Rosell served as Barcelona president from 2010 until 2014, resigning amid controversy over the transfer of Brazilian star Neymar from Santos to Barcelona.
