Sala i Martin considering his position

A few hours after the board meeting in which was decided that Barcelona president Joan Laporta would support Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer and not Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall in the presidential elections on 13 June (read more here), Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín, who was part of the candidacy of Godall, put yesterday early morning a note on his Facebook page:

"First of all, thanks to the hundreds of people who have sent me private and public messages to express their concern about my state of mind. I can assure all of you that I am fine. Secondly, I can confirm that some of the stories you've been hearing and reading about Barça are true.

You all know that Alfons Godall had my unconditional support but the circumstances have made it look like as if he will not lead a candidacy. Taking this into account, I feel the freedom to make the decisions that I feel are appropriate and to support that person who I think will serve our club best, if I will in the end give my support to someone.

What is beyond any doubt is that the commitment I have towards president Joan Laporta and the commitment that I have towards all the club members to work with body and soul (and heart) for Barça remains strong and I will continue to work for Barça until the last day."

Later that morning, Sala i Martín commented on the events in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 saying that he didn't yet know what his role in the election process now will be:

"I'm not sure what to do now. My main option was a candidacy of Alfons Godall with the support of Joan Laporta that included others. As this now doesn't seem to be possible, I take the freedom to decide what I will do now. At this moment I cannot say to whom I will give my support or if I will support someone.

It is true that the president has asked me to run, first last Friday, and Saturday again. But I said no, that my option was the one I was part of. I explained him my reasons, but I basically refused because Laporta leads the laportism and Sala i Martín should lead the salaimartinism and because of intellectual coherence I've said no.

Will I just stay until the end of the season and then leave? That has always been and is an option. I don't know what I will do. What I do know is that I want to thank Joan Laporta for giving me the chance to be part of this board that has created the best Barça in history and to be a witness of those great successes.

Because of my commitment towards Joan Laporta and the club members I will fulfil my task with heart and soul until the end, that is guaranteed. What I will do after 30 June is something I don't yet know."

Read more:
Laporta confirms board support for Ferrer
Godall not leaving electoral race
Sala doesn't exclude future candidacy

Soriano to make a decision before Friday

Spanish news agency EFE claims that former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano will decide before Friday if he will take part in the campaign ahead of the elections for president of FC Barcelona in June.

A source close to Soriano would have told the news agency that Soriano wants to announce his decision at next meeting of the board of directors of Spanish airline Spanair, of which he is the chairman, on Friday.

Soriano would think that his position at Spanair is compatible with that of president of FC Barcelona and that the latest events in the Barcelona board could be in favour of a joint candidacy with Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall, but the former vice-president on the other hand doesn't want to put in danger his relationship with the shareholders of his company.

A few directors of Spanair would be against a candidacy of Soriano, although one of them is reportedly Jordi Mestre, who could be part of the board team of presidential candidate Sandro Rosell (read more here).

Read more:
Spanair board divided on Soriano candidacy
Ferrer becomes official continuity candidate
Soriano to announce candidacy next month

Laporta confirms board support for Ferrer

Early this morning, a few hours after the board meeting in which was decided that Barcelona president Joan Laporta and the majority of the board members would support Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer and not Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall in the presidential elections on 13 June (read more here), Laporta put the following statement on his personal website:


"On Monday afternoon, I met with fellow colleagues of the board of directors, two members of which - Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer - were, as is publicly known, leading two pre-candidacies ahead of the upcoming elections at FC Barcelona. The other board colleagues were also present, with the exception of Albert Perrín, who is in Argentina, Magda Oranich and Alfons Castro, who were excused because of professional reasons, and Patrick Auset, who lives in Perpignan. Magda and Patrick have been following the decisions by phone.

In recent months I have looked for unity among the members of the board I have the honour to lead in the forthcoming elections on 13 June because all of them have shown their ability to guarantee the continuity of the club model that we have used over the past seven years. All of them have shown strength to resist and courage in difficult situations and they have all been firm in the decisions we have taken and applied in the benefit of the club.

And now, by a large majority, we have decided to close the ranks and to have one candidate coming from the current board, which will ensure the continuity of the current model that has brought Barça to live the best moments in its history. We have put an end to historical urgencies. We have Champions Leagues, the World Cup for Clubs, leagues..., we have entered a new international dimension, we are respected by the world of sports, there's the success of the sections... We are a reference. The current Barça model is the reference.

Jaume Ferrer, according to a large majority of those present at the meeting, will head this united candidacy that will guarantee a responsible project so that our club continues to enjoy the sports, social and economic successes of recent years. I think, and I'm convinced of it, that the work we began in June of 2003 after having received the support of the majority of the members still has a long way to go. And that the candidacy that has a large majority and has my full support ensures the best future we all want for our Barça. This project, which will be full of content and new existing proposals, will be explained in detail in the coming days.

Visca el Barça!"

Read more:
Godall not leaving electoral race
Ferrer becomes official continuity candidate

Godall not leaving electoral race

Barcelona first vice-president and presidential candidate Alfons Godall has put out the following statement after the latest reports about Barcelona president Joan Laporta and the majority of the board giving their support to Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer (read more here):


"Regarding to reports in the last hours, I want to clarify that:

I'm not withdrawing.
The president and other members of the current board of directors of FC Barcelona have decided to give their support to another board colleague to lead what they call the continuity candidacy.

I believe in the +BARÇA model.
My proposal for the future Barça that is called +BARÇA guarantees the successful management model in the sports, economic and social area, the catalanism of the club and the solidary and global commitment of the club.

I represent an integrative candidacy.
I've always been a supporter of coming together and joining forces, overcoming old disputes, and leaving room for new people and new ideas. In this regard, I have always been open to reach an agreement with other people because I believe that joining forces is a wonderful opportunity to win and to guarantee a good management proposal.

I do not believe in self-centredness.
I did not want to accept dictates about not integrating other people in my project. I think that projects are more important than people; therefore I will never put my leadership before the project.

I continue working.
Because of all that, I wish to declare that I continue working to make possible this future option, that is open and integrative, that guarantees the successful model, the catalanism of the club and its commitment to solidarity.

I thank you for the expressions of support I have received in the last hours and we will stay in touch through the usual channels."

Read more:
Ferrer becomes official continuity candidate

Ferrer becomes official continuity candidate

Yesterday evening at 7 pm, Barcelona president Joan Laporta organized an emergency board meeting at the offices of his law firm in Barcelona. The point of discussion were the results of polls carried out by the candidadcy of Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall and by the club.

The polls showed that it would be difficult for Godall to win the elections on his own, that Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano was doing better than him and that a joint candidacy of Godall and Soriano, led by the second, would win the elections in June. After been informed about the results, Godall told Laporta during the weekend that he didn't want to continue as candidate.

Godall yesterday repeated that he would not lead a candidacy that would not be supported by Soriano and that he would accept Soriano to head the project, something that was opposed to by Laporta and Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer. The president, who also would not have been happy with the way of campaigning of Godall over the last weeks, withdrew his support for Godall.

Laporta, who did not want to support Soriano leading a candidacy with Godall, then proposed to Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín to run for president. After Sala i Martín rejected the offer, as did Barcelona economic vice-president Joan Boix, Laporta decided to give his support to Ferrer, who wants to continue with an own candidacy without making a deal with Soriano.

Laporta after the meeting personally called with the board members who could not be present, among which vice-president Albert Perrín and directors Magda Oranich and Patrick Auset, to explain them what had been discussed and decided. Almost all directors would now support Ferrer.

sources: rac 1, sport, efe, el mundo deportivo, el 9 esportiu, la vanguardia

President Laporta supports Ferrer instead of Godall

Catalaan radio station RAC1 claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta has decided to no longer support Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall in the elections for president because of Godall's negotiations with former Barcelona vice-president Ferran Soriano. Laporta would now support Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer.

Spanish news agency EFE has confirmed the news.

(more soon)

The Quote: Xavier Sala i Martin

"What would I do if someone offered us 1.000 million for Messi? Barça is not a company that should make profits but a factory of emotions, and emotions are not for sale. Not even for 1.000 millions."


Xavier Sala i Martín,
Barcelona treasurer

read more election quotes here

Logo and first campaign slogan Benedito revealed

This afternoon, Barcelona presidential candidate Agustí Benedito has revealed the logo that he will use during his campaign, that is called 'L'Alternativa Benedito' [The Benedito Alternative]. Benedito also made public that his first campaign slogan will be "El club a l'alçada de l'equip" [The club on par with the team].

Ferrer: "I'm the current management without Laporta"

Barcelona assets vice-president and presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer has opened an account at online question service Formspring. This blog will follow the account and keep you updated on the questions and answers published on there.


As president, will you get involved in politics? Will you use the media coverage the position brings along to comment on non-sports related issues?
My involvement in politics is limited to my concerns as a citizen. I don't think that the Barça president has to get involved in politics and if I would end up being the president of the club I will not do that, nor will I ever take part in a demonstration. Barça should not be an instrument of anything.

What do you think about the atmosphere at the Palau when the different sections are playing and what will you do to improve it? And will you only talk about football or will the other sections also have a place in your program?
I have been the person responsible for the sections and as the current head of the handball section it is clear to me that not only football has to play an important role in the club. The sections are very important and to improve them we need to build a new Palau with a better visibility and a larger capacity.

I think that, rather than opening football academies outside Catalonia, it would be good to have one in Girona, Tarragona and Lleida [capitals of the three other catalan provinces]. I know that there are a lot of young people who cannot attend a football school because of financial reasons.
Our academy already counts on young talents from different regions, like Fontàs, Muniesa, Dalmau or Bartra. The first three are from the province of Girona and the last one comes from the region of Tarragona. That's part of the role of our own youth academy. Those from outside Catalonia have the task to look for future stars in an international environment. All this with the final goal to have a team on the pitch that includes players from our own academy and players with international fame who make the difference.

I'm a club member of FC Barcelona and I would like to know which three things you would improve, things in which you think the club did not act properly and that you now, with the experience you have, would change?
Basically, I think we have to put all our attention on improving the social area of the club. We need to have a club that is closer to the member, that gives an answer to their concerns, that makes things easier for them and that allows them to particpate in their capacity of owner of the club. It is clear that the economic and the sports area are functioning well and we can only strenghten them to continue making Barça known around the world as more than a club.

I would like to know a bit more about the difference between your project and that of Godall, because I don't see things clear.
It's very simple: Jaume Ferrer is the current management without Joan Laporta, and Alfons Godall is the current management with Joan Laporta.

Do you think a unification of your candidacy and the one of Godall is possible? And with the candidacy of Rosell?
This is not the moment for pacts and I didn't consider any other option than that of leading an own candidacy.

Read more:
Ferrer: "The homegrown players are the basis"
Ferrer: "Efficiency, discretion and renewal"
Ferrer: "My project is totally innovative"
Ferrer: "Focus on America, Asia and Africa"

Ex-players Amor and Migueli linked with Rosell

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell is still looking for people who will be in charge of the sports area of the club if Rosell is elected as president. It would not yet be clear who would become the new sports director and the new youth director.

Two of the names that are reportedly being linked with the candidacy of Rosell, are those of former Barcelona players Guillermo Amor (42) [picture] and Migueli (58). Amor has been the head of Barcelona's youth academy from 2003 to 2007 and is now acting as television pundit.

Rosell would also consider the return of former youth director Josep Colomer, who was dismissed after Sandro Rosell left the club in 2005 and replaced by current youth director and former player José Ramón Alexanko. Colomer has over the past years been working for Rosell's sports marketing agency BSM.

Read more:
Begiristain proposes Zubizarreta as his successor
The Rosell Project - Part 2: The Team
Godall: "Txiki will be my sports director"

The Pundit: Lluis Mascaro on Rosell-Soriano duel

« In the end, the elections will be decided in a one-on-one between Sandro Rosell and Ferran Soriano. The former sports vice-president will unite all the 'anti-laportistas', while the former economic vice-president will include in his candidacy all the supposed 'continuistas' of the laportism, among which Godall y Ferrer. »

Lluís Mascaró,
Sport

check more pundit talk

Spanair board divided on Soriano candidacy

Spanish news agency EFE claims that the board of directors of Spanish airline Spanair is divided on a possible participation of Spanair chairman and former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano in the elections for president of FC Barcelona later this year.

In general lines, Soriano would have the support of the institutional shareholders, some of whom would also want to have the company's name on the Barcelona shirt, while the private shareholders think the candidacy wouldn't be a good idea. One of the strongest opponents is said be former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart, the chairman of hotel group Husa.

On Friday 26 March, the next board meeting of Spanair is planned. Soriano doesn't need to have the approval of the board to run for president but a certain consensus would be desirable. Sources close to the shareholders would have said that there's a growing support for the candidacy of Soriano, who could combine the two position if he's elected.

According to some directors, the presidency of Soriano could also benefit Spanair because of the airline being linked with a brand known around the world. Those in favour of the candidacy would prefer Soriano to start with an own candidacy, which could then later be joined by - among others - the team of current Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall, who would be open for this option.

Read more:
Soriano to announce candidacy next month
Polls could lead to electoral pacts
Soriano preparing candidacy

Benedito feels neglected by media

Asked about the role of the Godó group and the Zeta group - the two main Catalan media groups - in the electoral process, Barcelona presidential candidate Agustí Benedito has said in an interview with Catalan local television station Teletaxi TV that he's not getting the same chances as others:

"As I'm already involved in this for several years - these are my fourth elections - I know certain mechanisms and I understand how things work. And I think I'm not saying something new when I'm saying that those two important media groups each seem to support a different option. That's at least the feeling I have.

So if they want it to be a two-horse race, we are too much. It asks a lot to appear in some media, but I understand the logic of the powers behind it. And that's fine by me. The pre-campaign will be very long and the time will come when we will be able to present ourselves in the way we want.

It's true that we might not appear that much in the media, as if we don't exist. But I think that when we've passed the cut of the signatures and there will be three of four candidates left, which I think will be the case, at that moment there will be twenty days left before the elections.

And during those twenty days, the elections will be decided. And I hope that during that period I will be treated equally as the other candidates and have the chance to explain our program, of which I'm sure it's the best. I fully believe that if the club members can hear about our project, and can compare it with the others, we could cause a surprise."

Read more:
Sala accuses Rosell of being behind opposition paper
This blog involved in the election campaign
Catalan journalist rejects offer to run for president

Most read of the week

these were the three most read blog posts of the past week:


1.
The Catalan Cave: Sergi Mas (Com Radio)

2.
Begiristain proposes Zubizarreta as his successor

3.
Rosell most popular candidate on Facebook

Laporta in favour of Godall-Ferrer-Soriano deal

Asked about the elections for president of FC Barcelona that will be held on 13 June, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has suggested in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Cope that a joint candidacy including Barcelona vice-presidents Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer and former vice-president Ferran Soriano is still an option:

"Since we made the decision on the date of the elections, the entourage of the club is very focused on the league and the Champions League and knows that once the season has finished there will be enough time to express or listen to the arguments, to know more about the programs and the projects of the candidates.

So I think the whole issue has for now been put aside a little and that the supporters are now in the first place interested in football. Will I try to set up a candidacy that includes Godall, Ferrer and even Soriano? You know, I like to talk with you because you always give me good ideas."

Read more:
Laporta wants exemplary elections
Poll result: Should Laporta stay neutral?
Could president Laporta become vice-president?

Ferrer hanging flag on headquarters

Last Friday, Jaume Ferrer hung the Barça flag
at the balcony of his campaign headquarters in Barcelona.

Poll result: Elections in June was good decision?

Do you approve the decision to call the elections for 13 June?

Yes 69%
No 31%

total votes: 418
start date poll: 29 january 2010
poll method: internet, free participation
source: el mundo deportivo

check more election poll results here