Cardoner: "The member always has the last word"

This blog had an interview with Jordi Cardoner, who will be a member of the board team proposed by Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell.


TRANSPARENCY AND CONTROL In recent decades the club has seen some cases where there were doubts about members of the board doing business using the club or favouring people of their entourage. The Consell Sènior Blaugrana, a council linked to the candidacy of Sandro Rosell, has been working on an ethical code that would regulate what directors can and can not do. A first draft had been submitted in November of last year but since then nothing has been heard about the project nor has any text been published allowing the fans to evaluate the proposals. Dou you still intend to adopt an ethical code and include it in the statutes of the club?
The Consell Sènior, with the help of more than 250 club members of Barça, has done a very positive job. Incorporating a ethcical code that can serve as a guideline for the rulers of the club would be very useful, but in any case it will be the member who will assess and decide this. We must not forget that in FC Barcelona the member, its owner, always has the last word.

Will the members of the board of Sandro Rosell make public their personal assets, something that has been promised by the candidate Agustí Benedito?
No, that would undermine the basic principles of law. Honesty is a responsibility of every individual member of the board of directors of the club, and that of the whole is the responsibility of the president. Unfortunately in our society, and for obvious reasons because of things that have happened and happen too often, people have lost confidence in others, but mechanisms like this would dehumanize and reduce the values of the institution.

There are rumours that say that some candidates are trying to manipulate the Barcelona fans using supposedly neutral Facebook groups or pages, for example groups that spread news about the election or groups of young fans. You can confirm that people who are part of the candidacy of Sandro Rosell haven't created Facebook groups or pages without mentioning their link with the candidacy?
The member of Barça is a lot more intelligent than many imagine, he is analytical person and doesn't let himself be influenced by simple comments on the web. You cannot manipulate the member of Barça through the internet. We really like direct contact, frank dialogue, without masks. The web can make people hide, it should be an additional means, but never replace real contact.

NUMBER OF CLUB MEMBERS In Catalonia, there is some fear among the season ticket holders of FC Barcelona that the club members without a season ticket might "take over" the club. It seems that it's also because of this that some candidates (like Agustí Benedito) seem to be looking for ways to limit the number of club members. The candidacy of Sandro Rosell wants to limit the number of club members or make the process of becoming a member more difficult?
Today it's very easy to become a member of Barça. Any person anywhere in the world can become a member through the internet. It is an issue that we will take to the general assembly, all the club members should decide on this.

PRESIDENT JOAN LAPORTA In the elections of 2003, you gave your support to the candidacy of Joan Laporta. Why?
Yes. I did that because of the friendship I had and still have with Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu.

What do you think about the work regarding the social area by the Barcelona board from 2003 until now?
Insufficient, the club member has been distanced from the decision-making process of his club. The club member should not be seen as a client, but as a part of the club.

HONORARY PRESIDENT You think that members should have the chance to vote on the appointment of Johan Cruyff as honorary president of FC Barcelona, through the general assembly of delegates (proposed by the candidate Jaume Guixà) or through a referendum (proposed by the candidate Agustí Benedito)?
Who has to decide is the member, the general assembly is a sovereign body.

CAMPAIGN Based on the statutes of the club - that for sure do not limit the electoral debate in time - or the alleged risk for the stability of the football team, the candidacy of Sandro Rosell will apparently not come out before May, which may limit the time to discuss your ideas to about a month. As there is only an election every six years, the members and the fans don't have the right to have a longer campaign, where you can discuss calmly and thoroughly the future of the club?
Our candidacy wants to respect the dates that the statutes indicate as the electoral period.

In your interviews, you have said that the candidacy of Sandro Rosell wants a clean campaign and you have always been very respectful towards the board and the current president. In part of the Barcelona entourage, people nevertheless have the feeling that there are several media - some of them have (correctly or incorrectly) been linked in some way with Sandro Rosell - who are doing the "dirty work" for your candidacy, praising Sandro Rosell and attacking other candidates or the president of the club, giving you the opportunity not to "stain your hands" in public and to maintain a good image of not wanting to divide the Barcelona fans. What do you think about that feeling? And more generally: what should be in your opinion the role of media in the elections: they must try to inform the fans as neutral as possible or they can - openly or in secret - chose the side of a candidate?
Your question upsets me because it assumes "dirty tricks" on our part. If one really thinks that, I would ask him not to vote for us.

BLOG Since September of last year you started the blog "The best fans of the world" where you publish articles on the club and the campaign. As far as I can tell, you have a style of writing that is pleasant for the reader. You have always liked writing?
I've always liked not to create or cause misunderstandings, and you can avoid those by writing in an understandable way, in my language we say "clar i català" [clear and catalan], in other words calling things by their name.

You will continue with the blog after 13 June if Sandro Rosell wins? And if he does not win the elections?
I didn't consider putting an end to my blog. I think it's necessary to have open lines of communication with the members, and as long as my readers allow me, I will continue to write.

BARCELONA FANS ABROAD You share the analysis that Barça cannot grow a lot anymore in Catalonia or Spain while at the same time there's an almost unlimited potential of fans abroad and that this is why the club (apart from of course take care of the roots) should focus more than ever on the rest of the world?
Barça is a Catalan club and a club from Catalonia, that has at the same time a huge potential for growth outside of the country. I think that in Catalonia and in Spain we can continue to grow, Barça will always grow.

If you win the election, José Maria Barnils could be appointed as "ambassador" of the club abroad. What will his function exactly be?
José Maria Barnils would be the person of the social commission responsible of the fan clubs abroad. José Maria, a member since his birth (number 6.000), knows what one feels and how it feels like to be a Barcelona fan more than 2.000 kilometres from the stadium. He lives in Denmark for more than 15 years and his love for the club continues to grow. He's a great Barcelona fan and a better friend.

The most fundamental right of a club member is the right to vote. If Sandro Rosell is elected as president, what will you do to encourage the participation in the elections of the members who live far from the Camp Nou? Will you introduce internet voting, voting by mail and/or voting by delegation?
We need to make it easier to vote for those who are unable to do so or for whom it's too expensive because of the distance. We hope that in six years the internet voting will offer all security guarantees so we can make the participation in the elections easier for the member.

Many thanks for the interview and good luck in the campaign.

this was the second and last part of this interview, you can read the first part here.

Read more:
Team member Rosell talking about their project
Rosell leading in university poll
Rosell plans embassador for foreign fan clubs

Cardoner: "Fan clubs should get executive power"

This blog had an interview with Jordi Cardoner, who will be a member of the board team proposed by Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell.


PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES What is your profession?
General director of the Spanish branch of a German manufacturer of insulating foams.

Your job could create conflicts of interest in case you would be a member of the board of FC Barcelona from 1 July on?
None.

FAMILY Your grandfather, Nicolau Casaus, has been vice-president of the club and responsable for the social area for more than twenty years and his name is still an almost mythical name in the world of the Barcelona fan clubs. How do you explain that? What has been missing since your grandfather has left the club? And in which way will the work of your grandfather be an example for your own work in the club?
My grandfather understood what it means to be part of Barça, and he always respected the club member, that is why he got respect from the members. Undoubtedly he has been, is and will always be a reference for me and for all those who love the club. To approach the club member is to understand him, and to understand him, first you have to listen to him.

Your sister, Elisabet Cardoner, has been a member of the board for almost six years - from 1997 until 2003 - under the presidencies of Josep Lluís Núñez, Joan Gaspart and Enric Reyna. Have you talked with your sister about what it means to be a director of FC Barcelona? She has given you advice based on her own experience?
Yes, to respect all of those who make Barça great and to only commit to what you can fulfil.

SANDRO ROSELL Since when do you know Sandro Rosell? What has been your relationship over the years? And when has Sandro Rosell asked you to help to set up his candidacy and to be part of his team of future directors?
We know each other for over 15 years, it was Josep Maria Bartomeu [another member of the candidacy of sandro rosell] who introduced us. Today I can say that we are friends. Two years ago, he offered me to be part of his team. After consulting with my family, I thanked him for the offer and confirmed my desire to serve my beloved club, Barça.

In recent months, you have shared many hours with Sandro Rosell during meetings, meals and trips. What kind of person is he? You have discovered new facets of his personality? You can tell us some anecdote?
Sandro is a 'normal' person, close, natural, a friend of his friends and consistent with his principles and values. Throughout our travels and visits around the country, what makes us proud the most is when people approach us and congratulate us because we are 'normal'.

SOCIAL AREA What is the basic philosophy of the candidacy of Sandro Rosell's regarding the social area of FC Barcelona?
To bring the club closer to its owners, who have made it the best club in the world, to return them all what they have given and keep on giving to Barça. To make a more participatory Barça, a meeting point for Barcelona supporters, for the catalanism, with an enormous respect and gratitude to all those outside of Catalonia who feel and love Barça just like the people from here.

FAN CLUBS Your keyword when talking about the penyes, the fan clubs, is "self-management". The candidacy of Sandro Rosell has also approved in its entirety the 'XXI century' project prepared by representatives of the fan clubs. Since the club's interests don't always coincide with the interests of the fan clubs, which mechanisms will you put in place to control the fan clubs?
I do not share the view that the interest of the club doesn't always coincide with the interest of the fan clubs. The fan clubs have no reason of being without the club and the club needs the fan clubs. The fan clubs are, without any doubt, the only identified group that represented the club across the world. I have the utmost respect for them, they are part of our social base. More than 20.000 members of Barça and 200.000 people are involved in the fan clubs. They are our grassroots members.

Are you in favour of appointing a representative of the fan clubs as member of the board of the club, something that has been proposed by the candidate Jaume Guixà?
The fan clubs have their own governing body, the Advisory Council. Today this has no statutory recognition, we want it to be recognized in our statutes, we want to give it executive (and not only advisory) power, we want them to participate in the decision-making process regarding the issues that affect them directly, we want to turn the Advisory Council into the Council of the Fan Clubs. At the same time, we will propose to the general assembly that the Council of the Fan Clubs will be represented in the assembly itself, meaning that the 35 regional delegates are part of the assembly and that this is recognized by the statutes.

this was the first part of this interview. you can read the second part here.

Read more:
Team member Rosell talking about their project
Rosell leading in university poll
Rosell plans embassador for foreign fan clubs

Rosell candidacy rejects Foster project

In a statement on his personal blog, Jordi Cardoner, one of the members of the board team of Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell, has said that their candidacy does not support the renewal of the Camp Nou stadium according to the plan presented in 2007 by British architect Norman Foster:

"What the stadium really needs is what is usually understood by 'paint and body work', that is upgrading the facilities, improving the access, mobility, ramps, lifts, toilets, bars, restaurants, parking spots... But we do not need the million light bulbs of Mr. Foster or to take on a mortgage for the next 50 years.

We propose a new Camp Nou, because we like our stadium a lot and also because it is already a part of our history, the history of Barça. We want the stadium of the past century (1957) with the comfort of this century (2010). Moreover, we need to reduce the spending from 250 to 50 million euros."

Read more:
Benedito: "Stadium shouldn't be visible from the moon"
Team member Rosell talking about their project
Barcelona could give up Foster plan

Businesswoman Susana Monje will be treasurer Rosell

Jordi Cardoner, member of the board team of Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell, has confirmed on his blog that Spanish businesswoman Susana Monje [picture, sitting on the right], who last month assisted a meeting the former sports-vice president had with Barcelona supporters, will become the club's treasurer if Rosell is elected as president in June (read more here).

Susana Monje is the 37-year old chief executive of the Essentium Group, a holding that includes companies that are active in several sectors, among which raw construction materials, renewable energy and real estate development. The group also sponsors Spanish third division club Toledo.

Read more:
Businesswoman could become treasurer Rosell
The three areas and vice-presidents of Rosell
Team member Rosell talking about their project

The three areas and vice-presidents of Rosell

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell would want to restructure the club and divide it in three main areas: a sports area, an economic area and a social area.

Each area would be headed by a vice-president who would have the support of several board members (see below). The list of directors is nonetheless not yet finalized and will be enlarged in the coming weeks.

Sports area
This area would deal with everything related to the club's sports policy, including the youth academy, Barça Atlètic, the non-football sports sections and the medical department, which should become a world-wide reference.

Former Barcelona director Josep Maria Bartomeu, who left the club together with Rosell in June 2005, would become the sports vice-president. He would be assisted by Javier Bordas, Jordi Mestre and former director Jordi Monés.

Economic area
This area would include issues like marketing, assets administration and broadcasting rights.

Former Barcelona director Xavier Faus, who left the club shortly after Rosell in June 2005, would become the vice-president if he can combine this with his professional life. He would be assisted by Carlos Vilarrubí, Josep Ramón Vidal, former director Jordi Moix and Manel Arroyo.

Social area
This area would include the relations with the fans, the club members and the fan clubs, as well as the functioning of the club's foundation.

Jordi Cardoner, the grandson of former Barcelona vice-president Nicolau Casaus, would become the social vice-president. He would be assisted by Ramón Pont, Josep Maria Prat and Pilar Guinovart.

note:
all people mentioned above were already discussed in parts 3 and 4 of this blog's "the rosell project" series that was published in october of last year. to know more about the background of these people, you can read the series here.

Read more:
MotoGP businessman part of board team Rosell
The Rosell Project - Part 4: The Board (2)
Internet entrepreneur joins Rosell candidacy

Team member Rosell asks Godall to resign

Asked about some statements made by Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín during the presentation of the candidacy of current first vice-president Alfons Godall on Monday (read more here), Jordi Cardoner (picture, on the left), who will be part of the board team of presidential candidate Sandro Rosell, has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that it would be more correct if Godall would resign as director:

"I might not agree with some statements made by the candidacy of Alfons Godall but what I cannot in any case accept as club member of Barça is that those are made from within the club. Mister Sala i Martín is representing the club at this moment and that kind of attacks are in that perspective not right.

If Alfons Godall has now declared himself a candidate in the elections, I suggest that, to maintain the equality between the candidates as well as the neutrality of the club, he resigns from his post, that he leaves the club and that he takes place among the other pre-candidates, like Sandro, who doesn't have responsibilities within the club and is therefore just a citizen with freedom of speech."

Read more:
Team member Rosell talking about their project
Rosell gives first interview ahead of elections
Candidates compete for future board members

Team member Rosell talking about their project

Speaking to Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio, Jordi Cardoner, who will be part of the board team of presidential candidate Sandro Rosell, gave some further insights in the candidacy of the former sports vice-president:

"It's true that I'm part of the team of Sandro Rosell. We're a group of very motivated people. We're very excited, not because of the mere fact to be part of the board but because of the idea of being able to lead and manage FC Barcelona.

For now, our candidacy is respecting a timing, that will also depend on the decision of the current board regarding the date of the elections. At this moment we're already working on our pre-candicacy for several months with a large group. We're trying to understand the reality and the needs of the club members so we can translate that in our electoral program.

Everyone within the candidacy has its responsibility. We had to organize ourselves as a team and that's what we did. Every person has some concrete tasks to fulfil depending on his personal interests, skills or wishes. Basically, we're a group of friends who knew each other already before starting this project.

In my case, I'm responsible for the social area, which might be linked to my family background [cardoner is the grandson of former barcelona vice-president nicolau casaus, who was responsible for the club's social area for more than 20 years]. It's really what I'm most passionate about, to understand the club members and to satisfy their current needs based on my ideas about the club.

Regarding the social area, we're mainly focusing on making it possible that the club members, the co-owners of the club, can identify themselves even more with the club, not only during the games but also through services that can satisfy their needs.

In general, we would like bring the members closer to the club and open the club to the members, for example by providing them more information that they now don't have, for example regarding the players' contracts. Just as happens with shareholders of other companies. It's about transparency, clarity, honesty and dignity, also of those who are in charge and represent the club."

Read more:
Candidates compete for future board members
Son of former president denies election involvement
The Rosell Project - Part 3: The Board (1)