Things Are Falling Apart In Barcelona, As Six Top Board Members Shockingly Resigns After Being Angered With The Way The Club Is Currently Managed.
Six top Barcelona board members have resigned and told president Josep Maria Bartomeu they are unhappy with how the club is being managed, as they call for an immediate commencement of the 2021 presidential elections.
Two of the club's Vice presidents Emili Rousaud and Enrique Tombas quits their position, alongside directors Silvio Elias, Maria Teixidor, Josep Pont and Jordi Clasamiglia have all resign from their respective positions.
The six board members confirmed their resignation through a group letter, expresssing their concern over the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis for the club, and asked for the club’s leadership to be reviewed as soon as possible.
They also further criticised the handling of a controversy that rocked the club in February, when Barcelona was forced to deny hiring a firm to attack opponents of Bartomeu on social media, including its own players like Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué.
The group letter published on Friday via the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reads;
“We hereby want to communicate that the undersigned managers have transferred to President Bartomeu our decision to irrevocably resign from our position as managers of FC Barcelona,”
"We have gotten at this point because we cannot reverse the way and manner the club is managed in the face of important challenges in the future, and especially in the recent post-pandemic scenario,"
"We also want to show our disappointment with the unfortunate episode about the social media accounts, known as 'Barcagate', which we learned about through the press.
"As our last act of service to the club, we recommend that elections are called as soon as circumstances permit with the authority, so that the club can be managed in the best way possible, especially in the face of the important challenges of the immediate future."
The six board members concluded their letter by giving a very special recognition and thanks to other colleagues on the Board of Directors who have dedicated, and still dedicating their best energy and efforts for the good of the beloved Barcelona Football Club.
They also thanked the executives and employees of the Catalona Club for their support and excellent work during this time in which they have had the honour of serving the club Barca.
Barcelona have also responded to the letter with an official statement that reads:
“In the light of the serious and unfounded accusations made this morning by Emili Rousaud, ex-vice president of the club, in different interviews with the media, FC Barcelona categorically denies any activity that can be described as corruption and therefore reserves the right to any legal action that may correspond.”
The Barcelona statement, also added that, "the reorganisation was being planned to push through the necessary measures to prepare for the club's future, overcoming the consequences of the public health crisis which is currently upon us and to bring to a conclusion the management programme".
Emili Rousaud had been appointed as the club vice-president in January and was seen as a leading candidate to succeed Bartomeu, who cannot contest again when the presidential elections come around next year.
You may recall that the Barcelona captain Lionel Messi had responded angrily ealier in January following the statement of Eric Abidal who is the club’s technical secretary, suggesting that the players were to be blamed for the sacking of former manager Ernesto Valverde, and just last month again, the Argentine also criticised the club for late handling of negotiations with the squad over pay cuts.
CloudNine Sports also reported on 30th March, that the Barcelona players finally decided to take a 70% pay cut in their salaries during the coronavirus pandemic and make additional contributions to ensure non-sporting staff receive full wages.
The reigning La Liga champions currently tops with 58 points in the La Liga standings, and are 2 points clear above rivals Real Madrid before the suspension of football activities in Spain.
They are also still competiting in the UEFA champions league this season, as they draw Italian side Napoli in the round of 16 clash, in which the first-leg ended 1-1 at the Sao Paolo staduim in February.
The return-leg which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18th March had to be postponed due to the global health crisis caused by coronavirus.
Two of the club's Vice presidents Emili Rousaud and Enrique Tombas quits their position, alongside directors Silvio Elias, Maria Teixidor, Josep Pont and Jordi Clasamiglia have all resign from their respective positions.
The six board members confirmed their resignation through a group letter, expresssing their concern over the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis for the club, and asked for the club’s leadership to be reviewed as soon as possible.
They also further criticised the handling of a controversy that rocked the club in February, when Barcelona was forced to deny hiring a firm to attack opponents of Bartomeu on social media, including its own players like Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué.
The group letter published on Friday via the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reads;
“We hereby want to communicate that the undersigned managers have transferred to President Bartomeu our decision to irrevocably resign from our position as managers of FC Barcelona,”
"We have gotten at this point because we cannot reverse the way and manner the club is managed in the face of important challenges in the future, and especially in the recent post-pandemic scenario,"
"We also want to show our disappointment with the unfortunate episode about the social media accounts, known as 'Barcagate', which we learned about through the press.
"As our last act of service to the club, we recommend that elections are called as soon as circumstances permit with the authority, so that the club can be managed in the best way possible, especially in the face of the important challenges of the immediate future."
The six board members concluded their letter by giving a very special recognition and thanks to other colleagues on the Board of Directors who have dedicated, and still dedicating their best energy and efforts for the good of the beloved Barcelona Football Club.
They also thanked the executives and employees of the Catalona Club for their support and excellent work during this time in which they have had the honour of serving the club Barca.
Barcelona have also responded to the letter with an official statement that reads:
“In the light of the serious and unfounded accusations made this morning by Emili Rousaud, ex-vice president of the club, in different interviews with the media, FC Barcelona categorically denies any activity that can be described as corruption and therefore reserves the right to any legal action that may correspond.”
The Barcelona statement, also added that, "the reorganisation was being planned to push through the necessary measures to prepare for the club's future, overcoming the consequences of the public health crisis which is currently upon us and to bring to a conclusion the management programme".
Emili Rousaud had been appointed as the club vice-president in January and was seen as a leading candidate to succeed Bartomeu, who cannot contest again when the presidential elections come around next year.
You may recall that the Barcelona captain Lionel Messi had responded angrily ealier in January following the statement of Eric Abidal who is the club’s technical secretary, suggesting that the players were to be blamed for the sacking of former manager Ernesto Valverde, and just last month again, the Argentine also criticised the club for late handling of negotiations with the squad over pay cuts.
CloudNine Sports also reported on 30th March, that the Barcelona players finally decided to take a 70% pay cut in their salaries during the coronavirus pandemic and make additional contributions to ensure non-sporting staff receive full wages.
The reigning La Liga champions currently tops with 58 points in the La Liga standings, and are 2 points clear above rivals Real Madrid before the suspension of football activities in Spain.
They are also still competiting in the UEFA champions league this season, as they draw Italian side Napoli in the round of 16 clash, in which the first-leg ended 1-1 at the Sao Paolo staduim in February.
The return-leg which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18th March had to be postponed due to the global health crisis caused by coronavirus.
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