During a university event in Quito, the United States Ambassador to Ecuador, Michael Fitzpatrick, made powerful revelations about people linked to drug trafficking and corruption who would be involved in certain money laundering activities.

“Their leaders are now even involved in the national passion: football. He used some equipment to launder his face and money,” Fitzpatrick said.

Alfonso Harb, the former president of Barcelona SC and also a former deputy, was consulted by this newspaper about what the diplomat mentioned.

“The only thing here is to explore. It is not specified or made concrete in relation to (the names of) football clubs that generate dirty money, but for that in Ecuador we have organizations such as UAFE (Financial and Economic Analysis Unit), which should conduct an investigation. the State Attorney’s Office in more detail in this regard,” he pointed out.

“Football teams must show absolute transparency and open their coffers, as well as football organizations, whether it’s the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF), Liga Pro, anything related to football at a given moment, before the investigation they must show absolute transparency, ” added Harb in a conversation with UNIVERSE.

The former head of the Canary Islands believes that the diplomat would not have dared to give an opinion “if he was not sure that it was happening”.

“From my perception, I don’t see that there is, at least at the level of professional football, the first A and B in Ecuador, I don’t see that there is an explosion of costs due to the involvement of drug trafficking in football,” he indicated.

“I say this, for example what happened in Colombia in the 80s where some great teams came together, América De Cali, Deportivo Cali, they had great players who cost a fortune, all Argentine footballers did not want to go to Europe, but to Colombia,” he added.

At the same time, he commented: “it was known that cartel bosses support football teams, especially teams from Cali and Medellín, I don’t see that happening here, even hiring foreign players compared to previous years, they hire foreigners of low economic level.”

Harb insisted that there are no more “big transfers” from one team to another at the national level, but that they go to foreign clubs.

“Under this perception, I have the impression that the teams at the first A and B level would not perform, but in any case, if the ambassador of the United States complained, let it be investigated,” he said.

“I insist that if the diplomat complained, it’s because they did an investigation and now it’s up to organizations like UAFE and the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate,” Harb concluded. (D)