There is unprecedented tension at the Camp Nou, the venue of one of the biggest clubs in the Spanish La Liga, FC Barcelona, as two vice presidents of the club Emili Rousand and Enrique Tombas tendered their resignation letters.
Rousand and Tombas didn’t leave the club alone, they left with other four board members – directors Silvio Elias, Maria Teixidor, Josep Pont and Jordi Clasamiglia.
According to a lengthy letter they published on a Spanish publication ‘La Vanguardia’, they have made their resignation known to the president of the club Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Stating why the group decided to walk away from the club at this crucial moment where all football clubs are battling to survive due to the coronavirus pandemic which has paralysed football, the group letter said they decided to resign for not being able to reverse the criteria and forms of management at Barcelona.
They used the group letter to agitate against the leadership of President Bartomeu and called for a review of the leadership in order to be able to handle the challenges the coronavirus pandemic would force on Barcelona.
The group also used the letter to call for a fresh election to fill the vacant positions at the club and a thorough audit of the club treasury.
Irrevocable resignations at Barcelona
The letter reads: “We hereby want to communicate that the undersigned managers have transferred to President Bartomeu our decision to irrevocably resign from our position as managers of FC Barcelona,” the group’s letter read via La Vanguardia.
“We have reached this point by not being able to reverse the criteria and forms of management of the club in the face of the important challenges of the future and, especially, from the new post-pandemic scenario.
“We must also highlight our disenchantment with the unfortunate episode on social networks, known as ‘Barcagate’, which we learned about through the press.
“We ask here that once the results of the audit entrusted to PWC are presented, that responsibilities be cleared as well as the eventual corresponding compensation.
“As the last service to our club, we recommend that as soon as circumstances allow it to convene new elections that allow, with all the ‘authority’, to manage the club in the best possible way in the face of the important challenges of the immediate future.
“Last but not least, we want to have very special recognition and thanks to our colleagues on the Board of Directors who have dedicated and dedicate their best energy and efforts for the good of our beloved Barcelona Football Club. Also to thank the executives and employees of the Club for their support and excellent work during this time in which we have had the honour of serving our beloved Barca.”
Bartomeu has been under intense pressure over what critics refer to as “Barcagate” meaning that there are some unseen hands calling the shots and playing with the treasury at the club. This forced Bartomeu to insist on reforming the management set-up of Barcelona to bring about transparency at the club.
However, he never expected that Rousand who has been said to be his possible successor would resign at this critical time.
