Laporta Re-elected as FC Barcelona President: Secures Second Term Victory

Joan Laporta has secured a second term as president of FC Barcelona, decisively defeating Víctor Font in Sunday’s election with 68.18% (32,934 votes) of the ballots cast. Voter turnout reached 42.34% of eligible members, with 48,480 participating – the lowest percentage since 1997, though the highest absolute number since 2015.

From Hansi Flick to Lamine Yamal, and with the backing of figures like Jordi Pujol and Ernest Urtasun, Laporta’s magnetism has earned him another five years leading the club. His name resonates deeply with Barcelona supporters, a connection forged when he first entered the club’s orbit in 1998 as the founder of the Elefant Blau platform. He initially won the presidency in 2003, overcoming perceptions of being an opportunistic administrator, defeating Lluís Bassat, the consensus candidate backed by influential political, economic, and sporting figures including Pep Guardiola. He departed in 2010 following accusations of mismanagement, but returned in 2021 with the stated goal of rescuing the club from financial ruin, and has now reaffirmed his position.

Described as rebellious, innovative, and fortunate, Laporta consistently presents himself as indispensable to FC Barcelona.

Laporta’s campaign unfolded in two phases: before and after a complaint filed with the National Court alleging money laundering and improper commission payments related to club operations during his previous tenure. Judge Santiago Pedraz dismissed the complaint, but the incident clearly fueled Laporta’s response, shifting from a passive approach to a more assertive one, exemplified by his performance in a televised debate on TV3.

However, no election proved more challenging for Laporta than his loss to Bartomeu in 2015. At that time, the strength of the treble-winning team under Luis Enrique, spearheaded by Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Neymar, presented an insurmountable obstacle. There was no effective challenge to the team constructed jointly by Sandro Rosell (president from 2010 to 2014) and Bartomeu (2015-2020). “We knew that project wasn’t viable, but we were constrained by the sporting context,” sources close to the president have stated.

This time, Laporta shielded himself with the sporting project. “The sporting result counts for a lot, and the return to Camp Nou surely weighs heavily too… many members aren’t happy, but all of that is swept away by it,” Font analyzed following his defeat. Embracing Hansi Flick on the bench and Deco as sporting director, the president secured the support of members in the same way he touted his courage in constructing the new Camp Nou. Even debate over financial stability – which Laporta portrays as a success (“Así salvamos al Barça,” or “This is how we saved Barça,” is the title of his book); and Font characterizes as ruinous (“Incapable of managing the club’s economic potential,” the businessman challenged – failed to derail the president’s candidacy. Nor did the discontent of Xavi Hernández, or the passive observation of Lionel Messi from the stands during a November night at the Camp Nou. “I hope one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never could…,” Messi posted on social media alongside a photo on the stadium pitch.

The name of Messi barely gained traction during the campaign. Marc Ciria drew attention with a banner featuring the Argentine and the phrase “Looking forward to seeing you again,” while Víctor Font asserted he had a plan to link the Messi brand to the Barça brand. However, Messi remained silent from Miami, maintaining his typically meticulous approach to timing. Xavi, however, was more outspoken: “Laporta told me he didn’t want Messi because he would start a war and couldn’t allow it,” he stated in an interview with La Vanguardia.

While his rivals used Messi to attack him, Laporta focused on Lamine Yamal. The day before the election, a signal arrived: Lamine posted a photo with Laporta. “It came from the heart. I was the first surprised when I saw Lamine’s Instagram. He’s a genius as a person, I love him extremely much,” Laporta said.

From the men’s team to the women’s team, Aitana Bonmatí appeared at Camp Nou to vote with the president’s support. In the afternoon, after the resounding victory over Sevilla, players from the men’s first team showed their support for Laporta when casting their ballots: Raphinha, Gerard Martín, Casadó, Olmo, Bernal, Fermín, and Pedri joined the president’s group amidst embraces, chants, and cheers. “It was an act to show they are comfortable. The players, Hansi Flick, the image of Lamine…,” explained Enric Masip, the president’s advisor and member of the sporting commission.

Laporta, in his element, continues to captivate Barcelona supporters.