Peruvian Justice Launches Investigation into Andrés Iniesta

Andrés Iniesta, the former FC Barcelona midfielder and 2010 World Cup champion, is under investigation by the Peruvian public prosecutor’s office for “aggravated fraud.” According to the media outlet El Español, authorities suspect the Spaniard of being part of a financial fraud network that has resulted in losses of over $600,000 (approximately €518,000) for several local businesspeople. These individuals accuse the company Never Say Never (NSN) Barcelona, of which Iniesta is a co-owner, and its branch NSN South America, of failing to fulfill contractual obligations for organizing various sporting and cultural events in South America.

Several events, including a legends match between Peru and Spain and a K-pop festival, reportedly never took place despite the funds invested. Authorities claim Iniesta’s celebrity status was used to attract investments and reassure stakeholders. Founded in April 2023, NSN South America had ambitious plans for regional expansion, but only one event, the Upa Upa Fest, occurred, leading to significant financial losses and the company’s bankruptcy in June 2024. The Peruvian prosecutor’s office states that the subsidiary provided no financial reports or accounted for the funds received. Andrés Iniesta, who has been officially retired for a year, has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.