Barcelona

Laporta, Font clash in first Barcelona presidential debate

Font made a veiled accusation at Laporta: “I don’t carry Barça in my wallet…” The current president called him a “liar” and accused him of “putting the sporting project at risk.” Font says he has a plan for Messi; Laporta does not.

Juan Jiménez David Nelson

Update: Mar 9th, 2026 11:33 EDT

With the March 15 presidential election approaching at FC Barcelona, where club members vote to choose the president who runs the club, the first debate between Joan Laporta and Víctor Font underscored the tension surrounding one of world soccer’s most politically charged institutions. Each candidate arrived armed with his talking points, strengths and weaknesses, trading blows for an hour and a half in the ring set up by Grupo Godó before agreeing to meet again Thursday night (11:00 p.m. local time on TV3, 6 p.m. ET) for the second and final debate.

Fiery debate over the future of Barcelona

It was a fiery exchange, almost in the style of U.S. television debates, with genuine moments of tension. One came when the businessman from Granollers launched a veiled accusation: “One thing is certain: I don’t carry Barça in my wallet.” “What do you mean by that?” asked the Barcelona lawyer. “You won’t have any problem explaining what you live off, then,” Font pressed again. “From my work,” slammed Laporta.

Laporta, as the incumbent forced to defend his record, tried to cast doubt over Font. “The sporting project is at risk with you. If you become president, you’ll fire Deco, and Flick is not comfortable without Deco.” He then took aim at Font’s lack of charisma: “The way you wave a scarf, they wouldn’t even let you into a bar to cheer and celebrate.”

The debate, in which Laporta spoke for nearly 37 minutes while Font failed to reach the half-hour mark (“you beat me by a landslide,” Font joked), was already heated following an interview Xavi gave to La Vanguardia. In it, he accused Laporta of sabotaging Messi’s signing and said Alejandro Echevarría had accumulated excessive power without holding any official role.

What plans do the Barcelona presidential candidates have for Messi

Laporta had little to counter with there. His plan is a statue and testimonial match for Messi, compared with Font’s far more ambitious proposal: an honorary presidency, a major Messi–Barça brand partnership and even the possibility of the Argentine returning to the club in an active role.

Laporta also took a swipe at Xavi. “He relaxed and couldn’t balance his family life with his professional life. He said our team wouldn’t be competitive in Europe. He was constantly dissatisfied with the squad he had. As for Messi, in 2023 I sent the contract to Jorge Messi, who behaved impeccably. In May he told me he couldn’t accept because the pressure here would be too great and that he preferred to go to Miami. I told him I respected that.”

“What will you actually change? Deco? Where is this superstructure you talk about if you’re keeping the coaches in all the club’s sections?” Laporta challenged Font.

“Who do we believe,” Font replied, “the club legends who have spoken about it, or a president who lies? Messi thinks the same as Xavi. Are we supposed to trust a president with a long list of broken promises and lies? One day Leo will speak and explain it. Breaking relations with the greatest player in history, opening this wound and trying to close it with a tribute and a statue is one of the most lamentable things we’ve experienced as Barça fans. Five years ago the president said: only if I win will Messi stay. That was a lie. His only plan was that he had no plan. Joining forces with Florentino Pérez is the worst thing he has done during this mandate.”

Font insisted his structure would be built around the trio Planchart–Puig–Cos.

Toni Roca Planchart — performance and analytics specialist.

Albert Puig — youth development expert and former La Masia director.

Xavi Vilajoana Cos — former Barcelona executive involved in sporting governance.

In Font’s model, they would form a three-person leadership team overseeing the club’s sporting project.

“Don’t make me talk…” Laporta replied. “Deco knows more than the three of them combined. Alongside Txiki, he’s the best sporting director in the club’s history.”

Font and Laporta trade blows

Font also sent a message to Flick. “He is an employee of FC Barcelona, not of FC Laporta. And besides being a great person, he is a great professional. And great professionals honor their contracts.”

Font also brought up the Vitor Roque signing, claiming the move had cost the club €40 million in losses. Laporta fired back: “We signed him for €30 million. We sold him for €25.5 million plus add-ons, and we kept 20 percent of a future transfer. You’re lying.” The accusation from Laporta only raised the temperature further.

“Technocrat, you hide behind a computer,” Laporta told Font.

“While you’re cooking pasta and slicing ham, I was presenting proposals,” the Granollers businessman shot back.

Laporta then went on the offensive. “I explain my project in simple terms. At Mercabarna, on a tractor in Mollerussa, where the grassroots Barça fans are. You’re an elitist.”

There were other flashpoints. The Negreira case, for example. “You’ve become the loudspeaker for the most ferocious campaign from the media caves, making jokes about Negreira,” Laporta told Font.

“We need to put an end to the judicialization of Barça. You’ve filed four lawsuits,” Font responded.

Heated debate at Barcelona

Then came New Visionary Group, the €50 million commission involving Darren Dein, the difficult reality of women’s soccer — where Font accused Laporta of having six players still without contract renewals, and Laporta replied that Barça players had won the last five Ballons d’Or and three Champions League titles — the supporters’ section, and discounts for club members.

Font also harshly criticized the club’s rising debt. “It has gone from €1 billion to €2.5 billion, and it will grow because a new investment will be needed for the Nou Palau. The only way to save the club will be to generate profits so we can put players on the field, fund social programs like member subscriptions and the supporters’ section, and repay the debt. You can’t refinance it forever. We must protect ourselves so a populist president doesn’t tell us we have to sell 10 percent to an investor, like Florentino Pérez is doing in Madrid.”

“Stop telling lies. The club will not become a public company under me,” Laporta shot back. “You’re inexperienced.”

Both candidates were given a final “golden minute.” First came the challenger, Víctor Font:

“On the 15th we have a historic opportunity. This isn’t about candidates, it’s about choosing the model of Barça: a Barça for a few people, or a Barça for everyone. That is what will make us unstoppable. We want the Barça of the members and meaningful benefits for them, not the Barça of tourists and a dismantled supporters’ section.”

Laporta sold stability in his closing remarks:

“Five years ago we found an old stadium, a team that wasn’t winning and a bankrupt institution. Now we have a financially healthy club, a great team and a new stadium. I said we would restore Barça fans’ excitement and we have done it. Give us your trust.”

Round two comes Thursday.