10th February 2026
February 10 – The charismatic Joan Laporta has stepped aside as FC Barcelona President, but his fans can breathe easy, as it’s only for a constitutional pause before asking the members to vote him in again when elections are held on March 15.
Running a club of Barca’s size has seen Laporta act as part chief executive, part politician, part lightning rod, and he has played all three roles across two different eras in Catalunya.
As Laporta stands down during the election period, the day-to-day operations are handed to a management commission, in this case, led by Vice President Rafa Yuste, who has been by Laporta’s side since the 2021 election.
Laporta will now be running on his record as he begins to campaign for yet another term. He was first elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2006, an era defined by Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and Pep Guardiola
His return in 2021 has been wildly different as a club financially bruised and structurally compromised has been forced into emergency economics.
Leveraged finances, public sparring over accounting ethics, and the pressure of rebuilding Spotify Camp Nou, which has incurred massive overruns and delays, have tested him in a position that is unpaid yet held to standards more commonly applied to corporate executives.
Laporta now faces familiar and new challengers in the form of Victor Font, Marc Ciria, Xavier Vilajoana, and Joan Camprubí. Each must first secure 2,321 member signatures just to reach the ballot.
The coming weeks will feel like a true political election with debates and speeches about transfers, balance sheets, and the near-complete stadium redevelopment.