Barça withdraw distinctions previously awarded to Franco
99% of FC Barcelona club members voted overwhelmingly to back the initiative at the annual meeting for members of the Catalan club.
Sunday's FC Barcelona club members meeting voted en masse (671 in favour, two against and seven abstentions) to withdraw a series of distinctions which were awarded to former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco during his regime.
In 1954 the Catalan club awarded Franco with a golden club insignia, in 1971 the dictator was awarded a commemorative medal to coincide with the inauguration of the Palau Blaugrana and in 1974 the club were forced to award Franco with a special medallion which celebrated the club's 75th anniversary.
During the 'socios' meeting, club president Bartomeu acknowledged that this measure came late with the relevant paperwork not found when the idea was mooted during the Joan Laporta era in 2003 and claimed that this move was a tribute to the Barcelona club members who had to "live during this period of history".