Bartomeu resigns and announces Super League plans in exit speech
Bartomeu resigns: as it happened
Bartomeu resigns: key points from resignation speech:
* Outgoing president drops news that the Barcelona board have "approved the acceptance of requirements" to join a European Super League (along with other major clubs)
* Says he refused to resign sooner as issues such as a new coach and keeping Messi had to be resolved
* States that the situation caused by the covid-19 pandemic was instrumental in making it impossible to go ahead with a vote of confidence
Bartomeu has posted his entire speech, though his account has linked to the Spanish one, rather than the English one. You'll find that here.
More detail behind the main point from the exit speech that is being picked up by international outlets.... the Catalan club agreeing to join a European Super League.
Many claiming that Bartomeu's exit is a indirect victory for Lionel Messi. Once again, difficult to find many sources of sympathy with the exit almost unanimously heralded by Culés around the planet.
Tebas tweets: the LaLiga president cast his view on the Bartomeu exit throwing scorn on the European Super League idea and observing that Bartomeu made many errors in the recent phase of his tenure.
Former club president Joan Laporta also made his feelings clear over Bartomeu standing down.
No hanging around for potential future Barça presidential candidate with Victor Font as he takes to Twitter:
The jist of the resignation and the reasoning behind the decision came at the start of the press conference. Bartomeu alleged that the situation provoked by the pandemic complicated any voting process and as the board could not convene a vote of censure in the current circumstances was instrumental in seeing the board resign from their duties.
So what happens now.... in the immediate future an independent administrator will oversee the club ahead of club elections.
Ok, plenty to take on board there in the 30 minutes or so that Bartomeu spoke.
Bartomeu ends with a Visca Barcelona and Visca Catalunya and receives a standing ovation from the few atendees in the media room.
Bartomeu: "Barcelona is one of the most admired institutions around the world"
So far, the tone from Bartomeu is cold and very matter of fact....at present the soon to be former president is showing little emotion. He did reflect on how unpleasant it was to be personally insulted and how uncomfortable it was for member of his family to get insulted in the street.
Bartomeu: Now talks about La Masia and how it has become a global reference point in the development and forming of young talents.
Bartomeu now reviews the success of the FC Barcelona Foundation and how the women's team has developed in his tenure.
Bartomeu on a possible Super League: "A future European Super League would guarantee the sustainability of the football club and that Barcelona keeps belonging to the members."
Bartomeu now runs through the list of titles his regime has overseen in a wide range of sport ...football, basketball, handball etc.
Bartomeu: "We also earlier agreed to a new FIFA proposal for a restructured Club World Cup competition.
Bartomeu: "The board have accepted today that FC Barcelona will participate in a possible European Super League:
The easiest thing after the Champions was to resign, but it was necessary to take decisions in an unprecedented global crisis. We could not leave the club in the hands of an interim board.
Bartomeu: "It's been an honour to oversee this club with the interest of the members always at heart".
Bartomeu now stating that much lies has levelled against his regime and these were motivated by political agendas and by those hoping to present their candidacy next year at presidential elections.
Bartomeu: 'Why did I not resign earlier"? ...Who would have ensured Messi stayed? Who would have hired a new coach ? Who would have agreed salary drops for the squad ? I could not let the club be run be external figures on a temporary basis.
"Irresponsible" a word cropping up by Bartomeu in his speech once again taking the Generalitat to task in letting the vote to go ahead despite Catalunya being under curfew. Bartomeu alluding that by resigning and ensuing that no vote goes ahead he will not subject club members to having to gather at Camp Nou in the midst of the pandemic.
Bartomeu singling out the local Generalitat (local government) for being irresponsible in giving approval for the voting process to go ahead.
He cites the conversation with the local government surrounding the protocol over the voting process over the 'vote of no confidence. Bartomeu was hoping that the Covid-19 situation in Cataluña would delay the procedure but the local government give the voting process a green light.
Bartomeu takes to the stage in a club facemask and indeed confirms his resignation along with the rest of the board.
Former club manager Quique Setien was also promising legal action against the club.
Setien and three of his assistants recently announced that they are suing the club for failing to fulfil the terms of their contracts after being sacked in August.
Barçagate, sacking Valverde and hiring Setien, the Messi summer debacle, the handling of the coronavirus prompted salary reductions and Abidal's singling out the dressing room as culpable after the Valverde are all major blots on the president's copybook in just the past 12 months of his tenure.
Result against Bayern... one of the nails in Bartomeu's coffin
The utter humiliating at the hands of Bayern in the Champions League quarter-final was one of the darkest night's of Bartomeu's reign.
Still no sign of anyone at the media room at Camp Nou. Inevitably a certain delay was due to happen with Bartomeu and his team no doubt finalising the exit speech.
Messi GIFs everywhere
Social media is stuffed full of Messi GIFs and memes right now, as many Barcelona fans celebrate the resignation of Bartomeu.
The reaction from social media and after canvassing FC Barcelona fans would point to few tears being shed tonight as Bartomeu is poised to leave the presidency.
Bartomeu's case at the Catalan club was far from helped after defender Gerard Pique tore into the president in last Friday's La Vanguardia.
Read what Pique had to say about the soon to be former president here
Live feed of Bartomeu's resignation
You can follow the press conference live here, likely almost all in Catalan.
This is how the situation looked just 24 hours ago..... How things can change in just a day
Only yesterday Bartomeu publicly stated that he saw: "no need to resign" despite the difficult situation he and his board were facing at FC Barcelona.
It will be Bartomeu and his entire board who will present their resignation with the decision being taken after a 45 minute boardroom earlier in the Catalan capital.
Bartomeu has called a press conference for 2045 CET where he will formalise the decision
Hello and welcome to our live coverage from the Catalan capital with the breaking news that Josep Maria Bartomeu is set to resign at the Catalan club rather than force fans to vote on his future in a vote of no confidence.
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