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Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has come out strong after revealing that the club has accepted a proposal to join a future European super league moments after announcing his resignation.
Bartomeu has fallen on his sword when he resigned, along with his board of directors, ahead of an expected vote of no confidence next month.
But he did not go quietly, as during a press conference, Bartomeu said that the Spanish giants intend to join a separatist European league that Liverpool and Manchester United are reported to have been in discussions about.
“Today I can announce news that will dramatically change the club’s income prospects for the coming years,” he said in his farewell speech, reproduced on the club’s official website.
The board of directors approved yesterday the acceptance of the requirements to participate in a future European super league of football clubs, a project promoted by the big clubs in Europe.
“The details of these requirements will be available for the next board of directors, and the decision on participation in this contest must be ratified by the next Assembly of Committed Members.
And I also want to announce that we have approved the acceptance of the future new format of the Club World Cup ”.
Bartomeu’s farewell bombshell was met with derision by La Liga president Javier Tebas, who says the “imaginary competition” would ruin Barça.
He tweeted: “Unfortunate statement by @jmbartomeu on his last day about the incorporation of @fcbarcelona into a weak and imaginary competition that would be his downfall. It confirms his ignorance about the football industry. Sad end for a president with successes and lately many mistakes” .
Bartomeu’s fate may be determined as he was heavily criticized by Gerard Piqué and later by Lionel Messi, who was furious that the president blocked a summer outing from the Catalan club.
Bartomeu did not have much widespread support and was faced with a vote of no confidence in next month’s elections after the Spanish government gave the green light for voting to continue.
However, he decided to resign to prevent people from having to travel to the Camp Nou to vote during the coronavirus crisis, knowing the likely outcome of the vote.
“I have always accepted criticism,” he added. “They say that I have a great capacity for resilience. I do not know. What I do know is that I have acquired enough experience, together with my fellow directors, to know what reality to live with from the management of the club.
And I have always defended that our self-criticism makes us stronger, and that Barça always reinforces itself with critical episodes.
“But what we have experienced in recent months surpasses any limit. They have disrespected me and my boardmates; they have insulted, even threatened, me and my family. Also all my boardmates.”
An interim board of directors has been convened until the March elections.
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