Barcelona FC denies its former president Sandro Rosell ‘bought a liver illegally’ for star player Eric Abidal

FORMER Barcelona boss Sandro Rosell has been forced to deny illegally buying a liver for one of his star players at the time.

French defender Eric Abidal had to undergo a liver transplant when a tumour was found in 2012.

But an investigation was launched by the Spain’s National Transplant Organisation and the Catalan Transplant Organisation after reports suggested Rosell had purchased the organ on the black market.

The investigation showed that the donation and transplant ‘was in accordance with current legislation and common clinical protocols’.

Abidal, who is now a club director at Barcelona, issued a statement this week saying: “Existing procedures and protocols were followed at all times and all the medical documentation that proves so is available.”

A spokesman for the Catalan Justice Department told BBC Sport a case against Rosell for the ‘alleged illegal purchase of an organ’ was closed without charge earlier this year.

Barcelona, Abidal and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona – where the ex-France defender underwent the operation – have always denied the claims.