Laporta will stepdown as FC Barcelona president

[drachen]

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Joan Laporta, president of European champions FC Barcelona, plans to resign ahead of the club's forthcoming presidential elections.

Speaking Friday at a press conference, Laporta said he would leave his post on Wednesday.

Barcelona judge Roberto Garcia Ceniceros ruled this week in favor of three club members who claimed Laporta's four-year term in office had finished at the end of last month -- and not on June 30, 2007 as argued by the club's management.

Laporta was picked in early elections in 2003, prompted by the resignation of Joan Gaspart.

One clause in the club statutes says that, in the event of early elections, the new president's first year in office runs from the date of the election to the end of the fiscal year, which for Barcelona is June 30.

The three plaintiffs had argued that, because Laporta took office on June 22, 2003, his first year in office under the club's statutes ended eight days later. The judge agreed.

sources:
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/060721/3/t7ec.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/07/21/spain.Barcelona/index.html?section=cnn_latest
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5805238?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=2740
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/soccer/07/21/bc.eu.spt.soc.barcelona.laporta.ap/index.html

[barcalove]

i really really hope they get voted back in... do not change something that isnt broke. laporta may have become a bit more flamboyant and hes become quite comfortable as the supremo but his technical staff and administrative staff are all doing excellent work. besides it was laporta that trusted in rijkaard and stuck with him when rossell wanted to sack him 2.5 years ago. i think in evidence of the trophy hauls and top players coming to barca that laporta made the right decision.

[nobuzz]

I can't see him being replaced by anyone, after the seasons that they have with him in charge it would just be silly to try to put someone else in.

[drachen]

I think the 3 socios who got him out are Nunez supporters. One of them said something in the lines of, What laporta did do nunez is much worse and that if it wasn't for "Elefant Blau" Nunez would still be president

One surprising thing is that of the 3 socios who got Laporta to resign, one of them was a former member of Elefant Blau and an (ex) friend of Laporta

[mhtwins113]

Is Rosell going to run in this election or does he realize that absolutely no one has any shot against Laporta?

[barcalove]

Is Rosell going to run in this election or does he realize that absolutely no one has any shot against Laporta?
rosell isnt running.. he claims there isnt enough time to plan a good campaign. theres a chance that no one will run against laporta and he will win by default.

[ELLADA]

If there is anyone that is thinking of voting against Laporta, they should watch that documentary... :)

[fcb_sandy05]

If there is anyone that is thinking of voting against Laporta, they should watch that documentary... :)
while it might be sensational if laporta was the one behind having the elections held, it has certainly worked in his favour. there is almost no way he will lose these elections and is set for another four yrs.if the elections were held nxt year things may not have been so easy for him.

[barcalove]

if i were a socio.. the only thing i would be considering is the team's current situation. it is a dream to have barca in the position they are in right now... on the rising curve of excellence. there is no sense in trying to change what is working so well.

[ELLADA]

while it might be sensational if laporta was the one behind having the elections held, it has certainly worked in his favour. there is almost no way he will lose these elections and is set for another four yrs.if the elections were held nxt year things may not have been so easy for him.
Seriously, the man is a genius! Next summer, who knows what might have happened. People tend to have short memories. As barcalove said... if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Not only it ain't broke, but it is running very very well. The best in Europe.

[jorquera]

Laporta has stepped down.
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/noticias/noticias/n06072604.shtml

[Freddy]

And he will be voted back for sure. Coz he is a genius and voters must be stupid. If they vote against Laporta it is bad for Barca, really bad.

[Allkor]

Eh, wow... I've been away (funny that also in Spain) and have no idea what was going on... :rolleyes: But there are banners promoting Laporta in Barcelona, looks nice :D

[Fenianbhoy]

When is the Election ? , Hope Laporta wins, anything otherwise could be bad news for Barca , no point in going backwards he is a Good man Laporta.