Ex-Barcelona president Rosell arrested

May 23, 2017 - 12:31 PM Spanish authorities have said former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and his wife have been detained in a probe over his businesses in Brazil.

The detentions early Tuesday are part of a money-laundering investigation related to buying television rights for past matches of Brazil's national team.

Three other people have been detained, but their identities were not immediately released by authorities.

Police raided offices, homes, and businesses in Barcelona and other locations in Spain as part of "Operation Rimet," in reference to former FIFA President Jules Rimet.

Authorities said the operation looked in to the alleged illegal payments received by Rosell and other people involved in promoting Brazil's games and that nearly 15 million euros ($A22.4 million) could have been laundered through tax havens.

Officials said the operation used information from the FBI after the U.S. case against high-level FIFA officials in 2015.

Rosell, a former Nike executive in Brazil, had close connections to the former president of the Brazilian football confederation, Ricardo Teixeira, who was mentioned in the indictment by American officials.

Teixeira was also being investigated by Spanish authorities, and raids were also expected in Brazil.

Teixeira resigned from the Brazilian confederation in 2012 citing medical reasons amid widespread allegations of corruption and irregularities in his administration.

In the 1990s, Rosell negotiated several deals with Teixeira involving Brazil's national team and Nike, which remains the sportswear company used by the Brazilian team.

In a separate case in Spain, Rosell will stand trial for fraud and corruption charges involving the transfer of striker Neymar from Brazilian club Santos in 2013.

Prosecutors said the actual amount of the transfer fee was concealed to benefit some of those involved. Neymar and his father will also stand trial.

Rosell resigned as Barcelona president in 2014 because of the allegations related to Neymar's transfer. He had taken over the club in 2010.

Source: AAP