Barcelona have pulled out of a controversial sponsorship agreement with Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) just weeks after announcing the partnership, citing a breach of contract.
The Spanish football giants confirmed on Wednesday that the deal, signed on November 14 and scheduled to run until 2028, has been terminated following internal compliance and legal reviews.
According to La Vanguardia, Barcelona’s legal department acted swiftly after it emerged that the company behind ZKP is owned by Andrew Tate, who is facing multiple criminal charges in the UK.
Alarm within the club reportedly grew after ZKP launched a new token promoted exclusively by Tate, prompting concerns that Barcelona supporters could be misled into a potentially fraudulent investment.
Barcelona had previously moved to distance itself from the token, making it clear that it was never included in the sponsorship agreement.
In an official statement, the club said “As a result of the breach of the agreed contractual conditions and after having carried out the appropriate verifications and analyses by the Compliance and Legal departments of the club, FC Barcelona has found that there are actions that do not comply with the terms and conditions established in the signed sponsorship agreement.
"Consequently, FC Barcelona has proceeded to terminate the aforementioned contract.
"The club reiterates that it has no connection with any token associated with said company, nor any responsibility or participation in its issuance or management, and that these elements were not foreseen in the signed agreement.
"FC Barcelona reaffirms its commitment to transparency, the protection of its institutional reputation and the rigorous compliance with the agreements it signs.”
The decision brings a swift end to a partnership that had already drawn scrutiny, underscoring Barcelona’s efforts to protect its reputation amid growing concerns around cryptocurrency-related sponsorships.
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