Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barcelona president, and his entire board of directors have resigned. This follows increasing pressure from fans and his public fall-out with the club’s striker, Lionel Messi.
Bartomeu became president of Barcelona in 2014. He was set to receive a vote of no confidence as fans tried to push for his removal.
At a press conference on Tuesday evening, October 27, in Nou Camp, he announced the decision to walk away following a board meeting on Monday in Catalonia after the 3-1 El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu announces the resignation of the FC Barcelona Board of Directors. pic.twitter.com/Xr9pBoUzHM
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 27, 2020
Bartomeu had earlier insisted that he would not step down, despite an impending vote of no confidence.
He said: ‘There is no reason for me to resign. ‘It’s not an appropriate time to hand in my resignation. No one will be able to make the decisions if I decide to resign.
‘The idea of stepping down has never crossed my mind. Never.’
An interim board will now take over and prepare for presidential elections.
Bartomeu was the centre of Lionel Messi’s criticisms when he announced his shock transfer request to Barcelona earlier this summer.
The Barcelona captain accused the president of not keeping his words, saying: ‘I told the president and, well, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I wanted to go or if I wanted to stay and in the end he did not keep his word.’
