Barcelona President Under Fire for 'Opportunistic' Election Timing Controversy
Barcelona has announced that their upcoming presidential election will take place on March 15, causing dissatisfaction among several candidates who are seeking to succeed Joan Laporta.
Since the club belongs to its members, Barcelona conducts presidential elections every five years to allow supporters the opportunity to influence the team's future direction. Laporta, who was elected in 2021, was required to schedule an election before the end of June.
Instead of waiting until the campaign's conclusion, Laporta has chosen to move forward early. Barcelona has announced that the upcoming elections will occur on March 15, which coincides with their home match against Sevilla at Camp Nou.
Laporta has defended his choice by stating that Barcelona should identify its president well in advance of the summer transfer period, providing sufficient time to determine their approach and giving players complete understanding of the club's future direction.
Nevertheless, those competing against Laporta have claimed his motives are far from honorable.
Laporta Criticized for Premature Election Announcement
Laporta Criticized for Premature Election Announcement
"We had already anticipated that Laporta would exploit any favorable moment to announce the elections," presidential candidate Marc Ciria informed SPORT. "We recognize that the regulations allowed for it, but the appropriate approach would have been to wait until the season concluded and without the various teams competing for titles being affected by this distraction."
It is suggested that Laporta has simply chosen to schedule the elections during a period when supporter opinion of him is favorable. Hansi Flick's team leads La Liga and recently defeated Real Madrid for the Super Cup, with critics arguing that the team's current achievements might influence voters' judgment.
"It is clear that these elections are scheduled when it benefits Laporta," another potential candidate, Victor Font, observed. "He shows no concern about conducting elections during a Champions League match.
"However, we anticipated this development and are not caught off guard. We are ready. These elections are crucial for Barça's future. The moment has arrived to restore Barça to its members.
"Certainly, if March 15 ultimately coincides with the Sevilla match, we insist that on that day the game be reserved exclusively for members and that tickets be offered at minimal prices. Participation should be promoted and those without season passes must not face discrimination."
Xavier Vilajoana, who is also preparing to challenge Laporta, stated: "My team and I have been preparing for quite some time, so we're prepared when the moment arrives.
"I hope the elections will be as inclusive as possible, allowing members to listen to and evaluate numerous proposals, and ensuring the club offers every chance for members to obtain all necessary information to make their decision and select the person they believe is the ideal president for Barça."