Joan Laporta

Under Laporta, Barça remained one of the last supporters of the European Super League project despite opposition from numerous fans, leagues and governing bodies. The club continued discussions for several years before announcing its formal withdrawal in February 2026.

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Directly implicated

Several investors filed complaints concerning investments linked to Core Store/CSSB, CF Reus and an academy project in China, some naming Laporta. He appeared in at least one proceeding and denied any fraudulent intent. In June and July 2026, two separate cases were closed, with judges finding insufficient evidence of criminal wrongdoing and considering the disputes, at most, civil matters.

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LaLiga and the federation initially refused to re-register Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor amid financial constraints and debate over revenue linked to Camp Nou VIP seats. Laporta denied any irregularity. In April 2025, the Higher Sports Council upheld the appeal and allowed the players to complete the season, finding in particular that the federation procedure had not been validly conducted.

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Political responsibility

To rapidly restore the club's financial capacity, the Laporta administration sold, among other things, 10% of LaLiga television rights for 25 years to Sixth Street and developed the monetisation of Barça Studios/Barça Vision. Delayed investor payments and auditors' reservations about Barça Vision's valuation subsequently fuelled criticism of the sustainability of these “levers”.

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Laporta was included in the Negreira proceedings because of payments made during his first term. The Audiencia de Barcelona subsequently excluded him from the case, finding that the 2003–2010 period was time-barred and overturning the extension of the corruption classification to the years concerned.

Having returned to the presidency promising to try to retain Lionel Messi, Laporta eventually announced that the new contract could not be registered under LaLiga's financial rules. Messi left the club, turning the inherited financial situation and restructuring decisions into a major symbolic crisis.

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Political responsibility

Rosell's administration brought a liability lawsuit seeking approximately 47.6 million euros from Laporta and former directors for losses attributed to their management. A court dismissed the action in 2014, and the Audiencia upheld the favourable outcome in 2017.

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Barça commissioned Method 3 to produce reports on four vice-presidents, including information about their assets and personal relationships, amid a power struggle over Laporta's succession. The affair prompted strong controversy over internal surveillance and use of club resources.

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Institutional responsibility

A no-confidence motion secured approximately 60.6% of votes against Laporta and his board, insufficient to reach the enhanced threshold required by the statutes. Laporta remained in office, but the crisis caused several resignations within the leadership.

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Directly implicated

Litigation over the interpretation of Barça's statutes resulted in an obligation to hold elections in 2006, earlier than Laporta's team wanted. The board resigned to make way for a management committee, and Laporta was ultimately returned unopposed because no rival obtained the necessary signatures.

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Directly implicated

The retention of Alejandro Echevarría, Laporta's brother-in-law and a club executive, triggered a crisis when documents confirmed his membership of Fundación Francisco Franco, after Laporta had publicly downplayed or denied the affiliation. Echevarría eventually resigned.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Political responsibility