Barcelona fans infuriated by presence of former president Josep Maria Bartomeu at Copa del Rey clash vs Barbastro as Catalans limp past fourth-tier side in 3-2 win
Angry supporters voiced their disapproval on social media as the disgraced ex-club chief was shown on TV at the cup tie in Aragon
Barcelona fans on social media were furious at the sight of their club's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu in attendance at Sunday's Copa del Rey clash away to Barbastro.
Television images showed Bartomeu watching in the stands as Xavi's side laboured to a 3-2 win over the fourth-tier outfit in Aragon.
Crippling debts, a failed sporting project and the Barçagate scandal left Bartomeu facing a vote of no confidence at Camp Nou and he resigned in October 2020, along with his entire board of directors.
Barça's delicate financial situation meant they were unable to keep Lionel Messi the following summer and most fans blame Bartomeu's mismanagement for the Argentine's exit.
The Catalans have also found it difficult to compete in the transfer market recently, with returning president Joan Laporta struggling to balance the books after the club spent beyond its means during Bartomeu's mandate.
It is unlikely that Bartomeu would dare attend a Barcelona home match, but 225 kilometres away by road in a small stadium with mostly home fans present, he seemed happy enough in the television images.
His presence at the game produced an array of abusive and threatening messages on social media and on the pitch, Barcelona produced one of their poorest performances in recent memory.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Barça went two goals up through Fermin Lopez and Raphinha but rarely looked comfortable and even after a Robert Lewandowski penalty made it 3-1 late in the game, Barbastro closed the deficit again with a spot-kick of their own in added time.
"We suffered a bit," Xavi admtted after the match. "We made things difficult for ourselves towards the end, but we're in the last 16."
More Barcelona stories
Terry Venables dies at 80: Former Barcelona stars recall 'innovator', 'revolutionary' and 'great showman' who 'transformed the team' after Diego Maradona's exit
Messinho: Manchester City & Chelsea tipped to rival Barcelona for Brazilian 'little Messi'
Manchester United and Newcastle in tricky transfer battle for Barcelona star: report
Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.