Godall resigns as director ahead of the elections

Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall has this morning offerred his resignation as director of the club in a letter that he personally delivered to the secretary of president Joan Laporta. As Godall explains on his Facebook page, his resignation will be officially accepted during the board meeting on Monday.

Godall is part of the presidential candidacy of former Barcelona vice-president Marc Ingla and according to the statutes of the club, the directors who want to be officially part of a candidacy must resign some weeks before the elections. The other board members who will participate in the elections are expected to resign at the start of next week.

Read more:
Godall: "It's a team project against ego projects"
Ferrer gets new support from board members
Godall confirms he is part of Ingla candidacy

Benedito accuses paper of burying poll

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claimed yesterday that Barcelona presidential candidate Agustí Benedito had ordered a university poll regarding the upcoming presidential elections that was carried out on Sunday in the surroundings of the Camp Nou.

Of the 1.200 people polled, 54% reportedly didn't yet make their choice about who they will choose for on 13 June. Half of those who already decided, said they would vote for Rosell, 24% for Ferrer and 15% for Ingla. Benedito got 11% of the votes, while Guixà got 1% and Salvat and Plaza were not included.

Benedito confirmed yesterday on a press conference that they indeed had that poll but explained later on Facebook – while linking to the article in El Mundo Deportivo - that it was in fact Catalan sports paper Sport that had asked for the poll but later didn't want to make it public and instead reported on another poll (read more here):

"This is the poll that Sport had ordered with the Ramon Llull university but that they then decided not to publish. They have the right to publish what they want just as I can tell this, right? In this one we have 11%, while in the one they published we have 1,4%. Now I tell you…"

Read more:
Benedito: "Transfer of Villa won't influence vote"
Poll result: Who would you vote for?
The collection of the signatures has started

Miquel Pou retires and gives support to Rosell

Through a note on the Facebook page of his candidacy, Majorcan university employee Miquel Pou has announced that he withdraws his candidacy for president of FC Barcelona and that he gives his support to presidential candidate and former sports vice-president Sandro Rosell:

"A few weeks ago, I went to listen to the candidate Sandro Rosell in the Majorcan town of Inca. His program was 100% the same as ours. This past weekend, I went to Barcelona and I could hear him again, and I was able to check first hand that what he says is the same everywhere.

Given that there is a serious danger that the continuism stays in power, I want to let you know that I have decided to withdraw my candidacy and to support Sandro Rosell as the next president of FC Barcelona.

I want to clarify that I did not talk with him and that he nor anyone from his team has ofered me something. So to all the people, organizations and fan clubs that have supported me until today, I ask all of you from now on to help Sandro Rosell to become president of FC Barcelona."

Read more:
Majorcan Miquel Pou running for president
Francesc Mane will run for president
Presentation video of candidate Miquel Pou

Soriano, Vicens and maybe Godall in Ingla team

Catalan television station TV3 claims that former Barcelona marketing and sports vice-president Marc Ingla will head a list that will include two former vice-presidents who left the club with him in 2008 after the vote of no confidence: Ferran Soriano and Albert Vicens.

Vicens, who reportedly thought at the start to stay out of the elections process (read more here), would have confirmed to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that he is already actively taking part in the preparation of the campaign of Ingla. During a meeting on Sunday afternoon at the house of Ingla, some last details about the campaign would have been discussed.

Besides the two ex-directors, Ingla could also get the support of current vice-president Alfons Godall, who withdrew his own candidacy last month (read more here). Godall and Ingla would currently be holding talks on a collaboration and it might soon be officially announced that Godall will be part of the project.

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu says that it's certain that Godall will join the candidacy of Ingla. Asked about the reports in the media, Godall nevertheless denied on his Facebook page that there would already be a deal: "At this moment, nothing has been confirmed... We will see how everything will evolve!"

Read more:
Talks between Ingla and Godall
Ingla preparing his election campaign
Soriano confirms support for Ingla

on the picture (from left to right): ferran soriano, albert vicens, marc ingla, alfons godall

The Quote: Alfons Godall

"This evening I've met FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta. There was no need to say anything. I felt hugely comforted. Friends are forever..."


Alfons Godall,
Barcelona first vice-president

read more election quotes here

Salvat confirms that he will run for president

Asked if the reports in the press that he will run for president of FC Barcelona are true, Catalan businessman Santiago Salvat has confirmed the news on his Facebook page:

"Of course it's true! I am proud to head a renewal project that brings together a large group of Barcelona fans that are full of enthusiasm and of love for the club.

Let us know how you want the Barça of the future to be. We want a Barça that becomes the pride of everyone and only with your support we can achieve that!"

Read more:
Santiago Salvat is Minguella-Medina candidate
Majo stepping out of Minguella-Medina project
Salvat starts campaign and unveils slogan

Guixa and Benedito want members to ratify Cruyff

Barcelona presidential candidates Jaume Guixà and Agustí Benedito have last week stated that they want the club members of FC Barcelona to vote on the appointment of Johan Cruyff as president of honour of the club.

Guixà [on Facebook]:
"Johan Cruyff has been a very important person in the history of Barça, but now was not the time to make this decision. If our candidacy receives the support of the club members, we will ask the general assembly to ratify it. We do not like impositions, we want the active participation of club members and democracy at FC Barcelona!"

Benedito [during a meeting with Barcelona club members after already having suggested it earlier in an interview with Catalan local television station Teletaxi TV]:
"One of the first things I will do if I win, will be organizing a referendum so that the club members can decide whether or not they want Cruyff as president of honour. For me it is a decision that should be taken with consensus and not while thinking about the elections."

Read more:
Cruyff doesn't see link nomination-elections
Poll result: Will Cruyff stay honorary president?
Cruyff becomes honorary president

Godall has offered his resignation

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall has offered his resignation as director of FC Barcelona.

Because he doesn't want to cause any unrest that could affect the sporting teams (read more here), Godall has reportedly not written a formal resignation letter to Barcelona president Joan Laporta but has informed Barcelona board secretary Josep Cubells and Barcelona chief executive Joan Oliver about his position.

Godall, who would only have spoken incidentally with Laporta since the latter decided to support the candidacy of Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer (read more here), would not return to the club anymore to assist matches or board meetings and would not take part in any way in the upcoming presidential elections.

On his Facebook page, Godall has meanwhile confirmed the story: "Although it is true, it's not a good thing that what Miquel Rico [spanish journalist] has published comes out... I repeat that once the sporting teams have finished their competition, I will give my version of what has happened and I will also give my opinion about the elections and the candidates that may take part. As for now, let's go for all the trophies we can still win!"

Read more:
Ferrer invites Godall and Sala to join him
The withdrawal statement of Godall
Laporta confirms board support for Ferrer

Godall would support candidacy Sala i Martin

Barcelona first vice-president and ex-candidate in the upcoming elections Alfons Godall has said on social networking site Facebook that he would support Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín if the latter would decide to run for president:

"If Xavier Sala would want to be a candidate in the 2010 elections, I would unconditionally give him my full support. He is qualified, he is big Barcelona fan and he has the motivation and the reason that are needed to be able to win the elections. Xavier, you already know this: if you want it, you can count on me!"

Read more:
Sala i Martin considering his position
Godall doesn't believe in Ferrer-Rosell duel
Sala doesn't exclude future candidacy

Will candidates take part in football game?

Yesterday, a group on social networking site Facebook was launched that asks for a football game to be organized ahead of the elections in which the candidates for president of FC Barcelona would take part.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the group "Jo també vull un partit de futbol pre-electoral!" [I also want a pre-electoral football match!] was set up by the candidacy of Agustí Benedito. This has meanwhile been officially confirmed.

The description on the page reads as follows: "We want the elections at Barça to be a model of transparency and fair play. Therefore we want to challenge all the candidacies and the journalists to participate in a football tournament. Benedito, Rosell, Ferrer, Guixà and the journalists all wearing shorts for a good cause: the unity of the Barcelona fans!"

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Rexach has Facebook support he asked for
You can find us on Facebook
Rosell most popular candidate on Facebook

Who are the people behind Jaume Ferrer?

On his profile page on social networking site Facebook, Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall has explained why he doesn't understand the support of Barcelona president Joan Laporta for assets vice-president and presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer:

"Ferrer is driven by three engines. The entourage of the sons of former Catalan president Pujol [note: jordi puyol - picture - was the president of the catalan government from 1980 until 2003], the former director and former brother-in-law of the president [note: alejandro echevarría, click the "echevarria" tag below to know more] and the current board members who couldn't accept being left aside by my candidacy. The first two engines are clearly anti-laporta, respectively for political and personal reasons."

Read more:
Ferrer denies support former brother-in-law Laporta
Barcagate: The Ferrer report
Godall doesn't believe in Ferrer-Rosell duel

Godall doesn't believe in Ferrer-Rosell duel

Over the past days, Barcelona first vice-president and former presidential candidate Alfons Godall has explained through his profile on social networking site Facebook that he thinks it is unlikely that Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer and former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell will face each other on 13 June:

"Somebody really believes in an electoral confrontation between Ferrer and Rosell? I don't! Jaume and Sandro are very alike. And they have too many friends in common in the world of economy and politics to compete against each other in the elections.

The powers that support and finance the project of Ferrer are in the end the same people who support the candidacy of Rosell. Why would they spend twice their money by paying the campaigns of two candidates when it's enough to have one candidacy that can guarantee a victory? Note: a winning campaign costs, without wasting money, at least one million euros..."

Read more:
The withdrawal statement of Godall
Rosell will have board of 17 or 18 directors
Cartoon: Is Laporta campaigning for Rosell?

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

Candidates react to Champions League draw

The candidates who will take part in the elections for president of FC Barcelona have earlier today reacted to the Champions League draw through messages on social networking site Facebook and/or microblogging site Twitter.

Agustí Benedito
The road to the Bernabeu passes by London and maybe Milan. It's not an easy path but we can do it. Let's go!

Jaume Guixà
First, Cesc's Arsenal and then Eto'o's Inter or CSKA... They will be exciting games! Come on Barça, straight to the Bernabéu!

Sandro Rosell
Arsenal... In quarters there is no easy opponent! Let's go!

Alfons Godall
Good draw!!! Arsenal plays and allows to play, the order of the games is that what we wanted and in semis, if we get there, we will have two games against Inter... In any case, as we have been saying, modesty and hard work!!!

Jaume Ferrer
It's a tie that guarantees a great spectacle. Two teams that like to play good football will face each other and as always we must approach it with all the respect and modesty, because Arsenal is an old acquaintance and it will not be easy.

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Cesc gives his ok to presidential candidates
The Quote: Samuel Eto'o
Rooney could become electoral transfer target

Rosell most popular candidate on Facebook

Three months before the elections for president of FC Barcelona, former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell is the most popular presidential candidate on social networking site Facebook, both regarding his personal profile page, as regarding his support page.

Personal pages
Sandro Rosell: 5.001
Agustí Benedito: 3.551
Jaume Guixà: 2.632
Alfons Godall: 1.899
Jaume Ferrer: 1.132

Fan or group pages
Sandro Rosell: 6.981
Alfons Godall: 6.841
Agustí Benedito: 1.805
Jaume Guixà: 481
Jaume Ferrer: 301

Read more:
Rexach has Facebook support he asked for
Marketing expert: "It will be an Obama-type campaign"
Live Coverage: Twitter chat session Sandro Rosell

Rexach seriously considering to run for president

Asked if he, as promised, will take part in the elections now that a Facebook group in his support has reached the required number of 5000 members (read more here), former Barcelona player and manager Carles Rexach has said in an interview with Catalan television channel Canal Català that he is considering the option:

"It started as a joke but now I'm seriously thinking about it because a lot of important people are calling me to ask what I will do. It would be like the bellboy ending up as the general director. But there's still a lot of time left to analyze the pro's and the contra's. Now could be the right moment because it seems as if everything goes well and that only a couple of things should be adjusted.

If I put a step forward, it should in any case be with a serious project. Therefore you need a team with the same qualities as the players of Barça, all aces. It's not an ego thing because I've already overcome that. The president should in the end only be at the second or third row because the exits come through the coaches and the players."

In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Rexach said: "Now I have to consider this. Although I like joking, I'm a serious guy and to take a decision like this one you need to analyze things because Barça is a very serious institution.

People like me can now consider running. Thirty years ago you needed a certain reputation, which I don't have, but the world has moved on and now everyone can take part if they fulfil the conditions set out by the statutes of the club. I admit I am surprised by how people react to this. When I'm going somewhere now, everybody calls me 'president'.

What I do know is that I wouldn't get involved in politics. For me, sports and politics should be separated because there's already enough politics in the world of sports. Alliances? I could reach an agreement with anyone because I have a good relationship with everyone, although I have the most contact with Sandro Rosell."

Read more:
Rexach has Facebook support he asked for
Llaurado admits talks with Minguella and Rexach
Poll result: Would Rexach be good president?

Rexach has Facebook support he asked for

The Facebook group that was created after former Barcelona player and manager Carles Rexach had said on a television program that he will run for president of FC Barcelona if such a group would gather 5.000 members (read more here), has yesterday evening reached the required number.

The group on Facebook, that is called "Carles Rexach: Si som 5.000 em presento" [Carles Rexach: If we are with 5.000, I will run], meanwhile keeps growing and has now already more than 5.300 members. Rexach himself so far didn't react to the news.

The 63-year old Catalan, who has mainly been working as a football pundit since he left the club in 2003, was a Barcelona player from 1967 to 1981, coached the team on three occasions as caretaker and was the manager of the team during the 2001-2002 season.

Read more:
Ex-coach Rexach considers running for president
Rexach has almost enough Facebook support
Poll result: Would Rexach be good president?

Rexach has almost enough Facebook support

The Facebook group that was created after former Barcelona player and manager Carles Rexach had said that he will run for president if such a group would gather 5.000 members has already more than 4.300 followers (read more here).

Rexach spoke earlier this week about the issue in his weekly column in Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo:

"I made the bet that if I would receive the support of 5.000 fans at Facebook, I would take part in the Barça elections. I just accepted like that, among other things because I hardly know what this Facebook thing is about.

But reporters are calling me every now and then and say 'ay, ay, ay!' because the list of supporters is getting longer every day, but we'll see what happens. In any case, there is still a lot of time left for the elections..."

Read more:
Rexach will run if he gets Facebook support
Medina continues to work on candidacy
Poll result: Would Rexach be good president?

Soriano to announce decision in coming weeks

Catalan sports journalist Alex Santos claims on his blog that former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano will in the coming weeks make a decision on his role in the upcoming elections for president of FC Barcelona in June.

After Spanair, the Spanish airline of which Soriano currently is the chairman, has reached over the last days agreements with the employees and the banks which temporarily solves their financial and social problems, he has now the time to look at his possible participation in the elections.

The options would go from only taking part as an observer over a candidacy on his own to a candidacy that could include current Barcelona vice-presidents and presidential candidates Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer. Soriano would make his decision public in two or three weeks - at the most one month - from now.

Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín claims on his Facebook page that Santos has first-hand information since he yesterday met with Soriano in the Semon restaurant in Barcelona and thinks it now has become clear that, when Soriano will announce his candidacy, he will do that alone.

Read more:
Soriano says current job compatible with presidency
Poll result: Will Soriano take over Godall candidacy?
Soriano repeats wish to play role in elections

Godall invites fans to watch game together

Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall and his campaign team have invited Barcelona fans through social networking website Facebook to watch the first game of the Champions League 1/8 finals against Stuttgart together with the presidential candidate. The initiative, that wants to bring the fans closer to the candidate, is called "Grada 2.6" [Stands 2.6].

75 fans will be chosen from the requests Godall will receive at a mail address and will be able to watch the Stuttgart-Barcelona game on Tuesday evening at the campaign headquarters of Godall in the centre of Barcelona together with the vice-president, Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín and other members of the candidacy.

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Godall chosing campaign songs
Sala: "Presidential transfers are against our model"