Joan Laporta has been voted back in as Barcelona president, defeating rival candidate Victor Font to secure another five-year term at the helm of the Catalan club until 2031.
The 63-year-old, who also beat Font in the 2021 election, will officially resume the role in July after stepping down as part of the electoral process. Around 42 per cent of eligible club members cast their vote, totalling 48,480 ballots. Laporta took nearly 69 per cent of the counted votes compared to Font’s 30 per cent, a lead too large to be overturned with the remaining ballots still to be tallied.
Font graciously accepted defeat, congratulating Laporta on his victory.
Several Barcelona first-team players and head coach Hansi Flick made their way to the ballot boxes after the team’s 5-2 win over Sevilla earlier in the day. Former midfielder Sergio Busquets, women’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati and club legend Xavi Hernandez were also among those voting. Laporta was in celebratory mood well before the final count, and was seen dancing with players after their emphatic Camp Nou victory.
Laporta previously led the club from 2003 to 2010, a golden era that included a treble under Pep Guardiola in 2009 and Champions League titles in 2006 and 2009. His second spell began with a financial crisis, which he navigated by selling portions of future television rights to fund signings including Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. Under his stewardship, Barcelona won La Liga in 2023 and 2025 and reached the Champions League semi-finals last season for the first time since 2019.
Laporta drew criticism for his involvement in the failed European Super League project alongside Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, though Barcelona formally withdrew from the initiative earlier this year.
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