مدير عام كرة القدم
- Promoter blames Yasuda Group for fraud
- Barcelona call off Kobe fixture
- Legal action planned over forged paperwork
Barca abruptly cancelled their scheduled preseason match against Vissel Kobe in Japan, citing a “serious breach of contract” by the promoter involved. The decision came just hours before the team were due to fly out. In a dramatic twist, the CEO of D-DRIVE, the company promoting the tour, issued a scathing public statement blaming the Yasuda Group, which is Real Sociedad‘s main sponsor, for repeatedly providing falsified documents and falsely claiming payment transfers had been made. He said Barcelona were “correct and responsible” to withdraw and confirmed legal action would be taken against the Japanese entities involved.
In a detailed statement to international media CEO Seul Ham placed the blame squarely on the Yasuda Group, saying: “The recently cancelled match between Vissel Kobe and FC Barcelona was originally proposed by the Yasuda Group, Real Sociedad’s main sponsor, and was to be co-hosted locally in Japan.
“D-DRIVE was scheduled to receive full payment for the match today; however, the funds ultimately failed to arrive. Instead, the Yasuda Group has repeatedly provided invalid and falsified documents, deceiving us by falsely claiming that the payment had already been transferred to Korea. We have obtained an audio recording from a Yasuda Group employee stating that their CEO ultimately did not send the money, clearly confirming intentional fraud.
“As a result of this fraudulent conduct, Rakuten’s public image has suffered significant damage. In light of these events, FC Barcelona made the correct and responsible decision to cancel the match in Japan. We will take legal action against the responsible Japanese entities to recover damages.
“Unlike in Japan, in Korea, the promoter has fully prepared the matches and covered all related costs. As of today, only flight expenses remain outstanding. To our fans in Korea: please rest assured. D-DRIVE remains fully committed to making the remainder of the tour a success. We will do everything possible to deliver unforgettable matches.”
The fallout has thrown Barca’s entire Asian tour into uncertainty, with the club yet to decide if the South Korean leg of their Asia tour will go ahead. The incident also comes at a sensitive time for new head coach Hansi Flick, who is trying to lay early foundations before the 2025-26 season, while the club may miss out on crucial revenue given their precarious financial situation.
The South Korean leg of the tour, including friendlies against Seoul on July 31 and Daegu on August 4, is now under review. The Catalan side have not ruled out continuing the trip but will reassess based on the Korean promoter’s reliability.
