He financing plan for the Espai Barça of 1,450 million presented in public by the Joan Laporta’s board of directors has generated deep concern in a group of partnerswhich has coordinated to demand explanations in a matter that they consider essential for the survival of the club.
The intention of this group is to send this Monday a request to the Economic Commission of FC Barcelonawhich will also reach the Ombudsman of the Partner, with the aim of obtaining the report and recommendations that, according to the statutes, this commission must have drawn up on the financing operation of the Espai Barça. If they do not receive a response within 7 days, they do not rule out adopting legal measures.
These members acknowledge in the letter “deeply concerned, upset and upset by the news regarding the financing of Espai Barça, which endangers the economy and the future development of the club and goes against the rights of members and season ticket holders “.
The absence of the new Palau Blaugrana has been the trigger for these partners, coordinated by Jaume Llopisa member of Espai Barça until 2021, when Leo Messi was fired, have mobilized, although the economic direction of the entity figures in the background of everything.
breach of agreement
The signatories include partners belonging to different opinion groups, almost all at an individual level, although some groups support it in full, such as ‘Un crit valent’ and ‘Seguiment FCB’. The decision was adopted at a meeting held this past week at a private home, as reported by EL PERIÓDICO.
In the letter, to which this newspaper has had access, it is emphasized that the financing plan “contradicts and fails to comply with the agreement and mandate adopted by the General Assembly” of October 2021, in which the green light was given to the board of directors to seek investors for 1,500 million for the Espai Barça.
In this sense, it is recalled that in that assembly “an unequivocal investment and cost plan was approved to carry out the works in the following terms: 900 million euros for the future Camp Nou; 20 million euros for the Johan Cruyff stadium; 60 million for the modification of the General Metropolitan Plan; 100 million for the urbanization of the surroundings and the Barça campus (Museum, Hotel, Convention Center, Megastore,…); and 420 million for the new Palau Blaugrana”. By law, it is added, “the assembly agreements are binding for all members and for the Board of Directors.”
Some numbers that do not match what was exposed in public by the president Joan Laporta, the economic vice president Eduard Romeu and the corporate director Maribel Meléndez. In their appearance, they explained that the 1,450 million euros were broken down into 1,071 million euros for the construction of the Camp Nou (“despite having been awarded to Limak for 960 million euros,” it is argued); another 200 million for contingencies and the remaining 179 million are allocated to meet financial costs of credit. There are another 50 million that have not been assigned, remember these partners.
Fear to the viability of the FC Barcelona
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Contacted by this newspaper, some of the signatories state that their intention, before resorting to drastic measures such as the courts, they prefer to explore the internal route as much as possible. “Before we should be able to exhaust the internal control mechanisms and solve our problems among ourselves,” says a voice. However, there is skepticism about the attitude of the Economic Commission. “We fear that there may be an excess of loyalty to the board of directors, as has happened in the past. It is a time when loyalty to the club should prioritize,” adds another partner. “The viability of FC Barcelona makes us suffer.”
In the appeal to the Comissió, he is precisely urged to present “the report on how the financing operation can influence the future balance sheets of the club.” The recommendations of the six members of the Commission are not binding. Its current president is the economist Joan B. Casas, substitute for Jaume Guardiola.