Barcelona admitted their relief at a conclusion by the Spanish league (LFP) that there was nothing irregular about their signing of Brazilian star Neymar last summer, although the deal remains under criminal investigation.
“FC Barcelona are pleased with the resolution adopted by the Committee for Economic Control of the LFP that there was no irregular conduct in the signing of Neymar,” read a statement released by the club on Monday.
Barcelona were indicted in February over alleged tax crimes relating to the 86-million-euro ($118 million) signing of the 22-year-old, and the LFP had requested more details at the same time.
However, they told the Catalans last Friday that they had done nothing to “infringe LFP rules”, Barcelona added.
The scandal over the signing of Neymar from Santos led to the resignation of Barca president Sandro Rosell in January.
State prosecutors have alleged that Barcelona owe the taxman nine million euros ($12.5 million) in deals to bring the player to the Spanish champions from Brazilian club Santos.
The case was started by one of Barca’s own members, Jordi Cases.
He accused Rosell of misappropriation for not declaring publicly that 40 million of the 57.1 million figure initially quoted by Barca was paid to N&N, a company controlled by the player’s parents.
Following Rosell’s resignation, the club revealed that the entire cost of the operation including Neymar’s signing bonus, commissions, marketing deals, a donation to the player’s foundation and other deals totalled 86.2 million euros.