FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta steps down, but a return may not be far away

Joan Laporta stepped down as FC Barcelona president on Monday to contest re-election. The resignation triggers elections on March 15, with Laporta widely favoured to return and resume office from July 1.

FC Barcelona fans were handed a huge shock on Monday when Joan Laporta stepped down as the club’s president. The resignation, however, was not a sudden farewell but a procedural move that allows Laporta to seek re-election in the March 15 presidential vote.

Barcelona confirmed that Laporta’s decision has launched a 35-day countdown to elections, with the lawyer-president widely expected to stand as the favourite. Laporta, who returned to office in March 2021 after winning 54% of the vote, is aiming to reclaim the role at the ballot box and return on July 1.

It is a familiar Barcelona moment, dramatic on the surface, but rooted in club statutes. Laporta’s latest spell at the helm has covered one of the club’s most turbulent yet defining phases. It began with Lionel Messi’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain and has since moved through financial rebuilding, structural changes, and a team now defending their LaLiga and Copa del Rey titles while trying to reassert themselves in Europe after reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season.

For now, vice-president Rafa Yuste will serve as interim president until June 30, ensuring continuity as Barcelona head into election season. The club currently sit top of LaLiga, with Real Madrid just one point behind, meaning the tension is not limited to the boardroom.

The reason is straightforward: Barcelona’s rules required it.

Laporta’s resignation is tied to Article 42.f of the club’s statutes, which states that a sitting president must step down in order to be eligible for re-election. By formally resigning, Laporta cleared the only legal obstacle preventing him from running again.