Laporta re-elected president of Barcelona for five years…

Joan Laporta was re-elected as Barcelona president on Sunday evening, defeating Victor Font and remaining in charge of the Catalan giants until 2031.

The 63-year-old Laporta, who also defeated Font in the 2021 election, will regain his position in July after resigning a few weeks ago as part of the electoral process.

Approximately 42% of the Barcelona club members voted, or 48,480 votes. Laporta triumphed with 68.18% against Font’s 29.78%.

He said: “This result makes us very happy and gives us so much strength, so much, so much that it leaves us speechless.

“No one will stop us. I’m sure that in the coming years, as I told you, exciting times await us.”

Laporta said Barcelona would focus on completing the partially rebuilt Camp Nou stadium, which is now scheduled for completion in 2027, a year later than expected, as well as continuing to defend the club from perceived external attacks.

“The members of the club voted on our proposal, which is that all of us together should defend Barça against everything and everyone,” he added.

He also thanked coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco, who helped the club win the domestic treble last season.

For his part, Font said he would like to see the electoral process modernized, allowing deputies who live far from Catalonia to vote without having to travel.

He said: “The turnout is the most negative aspect of the day – we would have liked it to be higher because we believe the club needs to be more participatory, like with postal voting.

“More participation means more strength.”

Laporta led the club from 2003 to 2010, arguably Barcelona’s golden period, during which they won the treble with Pep Guardiola at the helm in 2009.

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Several Barcelona first-team players and Flick turned out to vote following the club’s 5-2 win over Sevilla, with Laporta joining them at the polls.

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Other club members who voted included former Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, three-time women’s Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona Femeni star Aitana Bonmati and former player and coach Xavi Hernandez.

Polling stations were set up at Camp Nou, as well as in other Catalan cities such as Girona, Tarragona and Lleida, as well as in Andorra.

Laporta, elected in 2021 after pledging to keep superstar Lionel Messi at the club – which he was unable to do – has helped Barca stay afloat despite inheriting a financial crisis.

The lawyer controversially sold future TV rights and parts of the club to generate funds to sign players including Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in the summer of 2022.

Barcelona won La Liga titles in 2023 and 2025, and with coach Flick at the helm returned to the Champions League semi-finals last season for the first time since 2019.

Laporta has been criticized in some quarters for joining forces with Real Madrid manager Florentino Perez to try to realize the failed European Super League project. Barcelona finally pulled out earlier this year.

During his first spell as president, Laporta oversaw a joyous period for Barcelona, ​​including the arrival of Brazilian star Ronaldinho, the emergence of the club’s greatest ever player Messi and two Champions League triumphs in 2006 and 2009.

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