Barcelona Court Probes Football Stars in $3.4M Crypto Scam
Barcelona Court Probes $3.4M Crypto Fraud Involving Famous Footballers
A cryptocurrency scandal has rocked the football world as a court in Barcelona’s fifth district launches a full investigation into a fraud case involving top football players. At the center of the controversy is a crypto startup named Shirtum, which allegedly misled investors through a failed NFT project and pocketed at least $3.4 million.
The company’s glamorous marketing campaign featured six professional footballers, including World Cup champion Papu Gómez, Lucas Ocampos, Ivan Rakitić, Javier Saviola, Nico Pareja, and Alberto Moreno. But beneath the surface, prosecutors say the project was a carefully structured fraud.
The Players Behind the Crypto Project
Who Are the Footballers Involved?
Shirtum positioned itself as a cutting-edge NFT platform focused on football memorabilia. The project was heavily promoted with the support of several high-profile footballers:
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Papu Gómez – 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina
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Lucas Ocampos – La Liga standout
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Ivan Rakitić – Former Barcelona and Sevilla midfielder
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Javier Saviola – Ex-Barcelona and Real Madrid forward
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Nico Pareja – Retired Argentine defender
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Alberto Moreno – Spanish footballer and Europa League winner
These players were listed as “founders” or official partners of the platform, helping build hype and investor trust—only for the project to vanish without delivering on its promises.
What Was Shirtum’s NFT Schem
NFTs That Never Worked
The core idea of Shirtum was to sell NFTs linked to football players’ image rights—unique digital tokens that fans could buy, trade, or collect. These were supposed to function like digital memorabilia tied to each player’s brand and legacy.
But the project never delivered functional NFTs. Despite raising millions from eager investors, Shirtum’s NFTs had no trading utility, and the platform never established a working marketplace.
Soon after the initial buzz, investors noticed problems:
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No secondary market for trading the NFTs
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No updates from the company
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Promotional content deleted from players’ social media
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A mysterious “hack” was blamed in 2022—but with no police report filed
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Shirtum shut down silently, leaving investors in the dark
Inside the Legal Investigation
Complex Structure Used to Evade Taxes
According to prosecutors, Shirtum operated as a Spanish-Argentine joint venture, hiding behind a maze of corporate entities to avoid tax obligations. Authorities believe this web of companies was deliberately created to make it harder to trace funds and obscure liability.
The Barcelona court is currently investigating possible fraud, tax evasion, and investor deception, especially given the involvement of public figures who benefited from the hype.
Social Media Evidence Vanished
One of the most suspicious signs was the sudden deletion of videos, tweets, and Instagram posts where players endorsed the Shirtum project. Investigators say this was likely an intentional effort to erase digital traces once the fraud became harder to hide.
What This Means for Crypto and Football Fans
Trust in Athlete-Endorsed Projects Takes a Hit
The Shirtum case is another reminder that even celebrity endorsements do not guarantee legitimacy. In fact, fraudsters often use public figures to create artificial trust and attract casual investors who may not fully understand crypto or NFT markets.
This case has wider implications for:
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Regulators, who may tighten controls on athlete endorsements
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Investors, who should be more cautious with projects promoted by stars
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Footballers, whose reputations may be damaged by these partnerships
Lessons for Crypto Investors
Don’t Be Fooled by Fame
The rise of crypto has brought exciting opportunities—but also new ways to get scammed. Investors should keep these key rules in mind:
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Do your own research: Don’t rely solely on celebrity promotions
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Check project utility: If there’s no real use case or platform, that’s a red flag
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Look for transparency: Teams that hide behind shell companies are risky
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Beware of “hacks” with no details: If a company claims it was hacked but doesn’t report it to the police, it’s likely a cover-up
What Happens Next
The court in Barcelona is continuing its investigation, and criminal charges may soon be filed. If the allegations are confirmed, the players involved could face legal action or financial penalties, depending on how deeply they were involved in Shirtum’s operations.
The case could also set a legal precedent in Spain and Europe regarding the responsibilities of athletes who endorse crypto projects—especially those that turn out to be fraudulent.
Shirtum’s collapse is a cautionary tale for both crypto investors and football fans. It shows how easily a shiny new project can mask deeper problems, especially when it has the backing of household names. As blockchain technology continues to grow, it’s critical to build systems of trust, regulation, and accountability—not just buzz.
Until then, always be careful where you put your money—even if your favorite footballer tells you it’s a good idea.
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