Éric Abidal’s transplanted liver appears to have come from the black market

Big reveal. The National Institute of Toxicology, which is part of the Spanish Ministry of Justice, has found no evidence of a relationship between the former Barcelona footballer and his alleged cousin who was supposed to have donated part of his liver years ago.

This is linked to a case in a Barcelona court regarding possible organ trafficking, which is said to have involved former club president Sandro Rosell and board member Juandro Castillo.

The evidence uncovered is another clue to the guilt of those involved, as phone calls between Rosell himself and Castillo about the illegal liver purchase and the fabricated story of a cousin as an organ donor have previously been made public.

The accused had previously argued that Abidal and the donor had only a common grandmother. New revelations have shown that this is not true. Abidal was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2011.

A year later, the Frenchman underwent a successful liver transplant, and in 2017, the first reports of irregularities in the process emerged. The case has since been opened and taken to court.

Under criminal law, all those involved face a prison sentence of between two and 18 years for trafficking for the purpose of obtaining tissues, cells or human organs.

Source: El Confidencial