A week after having their transfer ban appeal rejected by the CAS and a day after losing 1-0 away to Real Sociedad in La Liga, Barcelona have taken an important decision: the club has sacked their Director of Football, Andoni Zubizarreta, who was appointed for the post back in 2010.
At 15:53 GMT (10:53 ET), the club published a statement on their official website, part of which read:
“The FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu has decided to terminate as of today the contract of the Club’s Director of Football, Andoni Zubizarreta.
“The President, in the name of the Club, thanks Andoni Zubizarreta for his contribution, dedication and professionalism over the last four years in his role at the head of the Club’s football area.”
Zubizarreta played for the Catalans as a goalkeeper between 1986 and 1994. It remains to be seen if another name at the club will suffer the sack shortly but fresh news indicates that Carles Puyol has resigned from his post as Assistant Director of Football.
Part of Puyol's statement read:
“I would like to announce that I have decided to put an end to my working relationship with FC Barcelona. [...] I have learned a lot. I am very grateful and now I would like to expirement with other things from another perspective. [...] I want to grow both at personal and professional level.”
Twitter reacts
Damn FC Barcelona. Cleaning house? Get rid of Suarez next.
— Rebecca (@NoItsRebecca) January 5, 2015
Jesus what is going on at Barcelona
— Daniel (@ChelseasHazard) January 5, 2015
Carles Puyol has resigned as assistant sports director of Barcelona too after Zubizarretta was sacked. There is an earthquake at Barça.
— mephobia (@mephobia8) January 5, 2015
Puyol will be back, but clearly doesn't want to work with this Barcelona board and who can blame him? Shambles.
— Ben Hayward (@bghayward) January 5, 2015
Sounds like a fun day at Barcelona. Zubizarreta and Puyol both leave, day after defeat to Sociedad. In crisis in time for City game?
— Mark Ogden (@MOgdenTelegraph) January 5, 2015
Alfredo Martinez says that Barcelona became Disney land under Luis Enrique
— CuLé (@FCBCulesta) January 5, 2015
Last Sunday, Barcelona missed a golden chance to leapfrog bitter rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga standings. Los Blancos had lost to Valencia earlier in the day but the Catalans failed to capitalize on that defeat as they also went down 1-0 at the Anoeta with Jordi Alba netting an own goal.
Coach Luis Enrique was widely criticized for starting Neymar and talisman Lionel Messi on the bench. According to reports in Spain, there is tension at the Camp Nou between La Pulga and the manager.
The Blaugrana's next game is on Thursday at home to Elche in the Copa del Rey. The key to appease angry Barca fans is in Luis Enrique's hand.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Follow the game on-the-go
Download our iOS and Android apps to follow soccer on-the-go. It comes packed with features - live scores, fixtures, results, tables, line-ups, stats, TV schedule and much more! Sorry, no live streaming within the app.
