FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned from the club on Tuesday after nearly 20,000 fans signed a petition calling for him to step down.
Bartomeu was due to face a no-confidence vote
next month. The rest of the board of directors of the Spanish football club
also resigned.
Bartomeu said in an official statement,
"This is a concise and calm decision, agreed with all my fellow directors.
There will be an election within the next three
months to replace Bartomeu, but it is expected’ to be over in three months. An
interim board will be in charge until a successor is’ named.
Bartholomew controlled the club for six years.
During that time, he won the 2015 UEFA Champions League crown, four consecutive
Copa Del Rey from 2015 to 2018, and four La Liga titles. But the reaction to
superstar Lionel Messi's departure near summer, as well as the recent downturn,
trophies and financial stability proved overwhelming.
"[Bartomeu] didn't end his word," Messi
said in an interview with football website Goal in September, adding that
"it's been a long time since a project or anything happened. Has been’
done. Plugging gaps. "
FC Barcelona announced earlier this month that
the club had lost 97 97 million (4 114 million) last season, and its debt had
risen to $ 488 million.
Super League announced
The incumbent former president also said on
Monday that he had accepted the Catalan club's offer to play in the
"future European Super League" which would "guarantee the club's
economic stability".
The concept of the European Football Super League
has been around for many years, allowing teams from Europe's top national
leagues to play against each other in their league. Even defending German and
European champions Bayern Munich were interested in forming such a league. If
implemented, it could potentially replace existing Champions League and/or
Europa League competitions.
La Liga president Javier Tebas Medrano tweeted
his displeasure at Bartomeu's decision to support the league, saying: "It
confirms his ignorance of the football industry. Tragic consequences for a
president with mistakes. "
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