The prosecution in Ecuador has initiated a significant legal action against Antonio Alvarez, the president of the renowned Barcelona SC football club, alongside ten other individuals, including David Alvarez, the head of the club's football commission. This legal action arises from a case known as Goleada, which investigates allegations of organized crime associated with money laundering and tax evasion. The prosecutor has requested preventive detention based on a substantial amount of evidence, compelling the court to consider the serious nature of these accusations.

The legal proceedings began during a late-night session on February 11, when the charges were formally presented against the detainees. Notably, the arrests included Alvarez's brothers, Aquiles, who serves as the mayor of Guayaquil, and Xavier, a public official linked to the football club, indicating a wider network of involvement within local governance and sports administration. For ten out of the eleven detained individuals, the prosecutor has indicated a need for preventive detention due to the gravity of the allegations and the potential for flight or tampering with evidence.

Amid these developments, Miguel Montalvo Arias has been appointed as the acting president of Barcelona SC as the club navigates through this turbulent phase. The implications of these arrests extend beyond the individuals involved and may affect the reputation of one of Ecuador's most prestigious football institutions. This situation raises questions about governance in the realm of sports and could lead to broader scrutiny of financial practices within other clubs and organizations.