Josep Maria Bartomeu announced on Tuesday his resignation as Barcelona president, stepping down from his position ahead of a vote of no confidence. However, that was not the only bombshell dropped by the under-fire executive as he revealed the Catalan giants have agreed to join a future European Super League.
A motion for a vote of no confidence was launched against the 57-year-old in the wake of the Blaugrana's embarrassing 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich last season, passing the first hurdle to reach the referendum stage. November 1-2 was scheduled as the final round of voting which would have decided his fate and after a failed attempt to delay things, the president and his board of directors stepped down before the club members could take to the ballots.
"This is a decision that has been thought through by me and by everyone working for the team's board. The Generalitat did not take under consideration our request to hold the elections in 15 days, which leaves us with no choice but to step down," Bartomeu said.
However, that wasn't all he said. He later revealed that the Spanish giants have accepted a proposal to join the rumored European Super League, all but confirming the behind-closed-door talks to establish a breakaway competition for the continent's elites.
"Today I can announce a piece of news that will extraordinarily change the club's revenue prospects for the coming years," the departing president announced in an official statement.
"The details of these requirements will be available to the next board of directors, and the decision on participation in this competition will have to be ratified by the next Assembly of Compromising Partners.
"And I also want to announce that we have approved the acceptance of the future new format of the Club World Cup."
This comes after Sky Sports revealed that the likes of Man Utd, Liverpool, and Real Madrid are pushing for a breakaway competition called the European Premier League. This would be an 18-team tournament featuring the best sides from England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France and is said to be backed by FIFA, with 2022 being set as the provisional start date.
This competition would be more financially beneficial for the likes of Barcelona than the UEFA Champions League, which it is set to either replace or compete with. This league would be held during the week, which means the Blaugrana wouldn't have to pull out of La Liga to join this lucrative tournament. Nonetheless, Bartomeu's announcement irked Javier Tebas, the president of the Primeira Divison.
"Unfortunate Bartomeu statement on his last day about FC Barcelona joining a weak and imaginary competition which would be their ruin," Tebas wrote on Twitter.
"It confirms his ignorance about the football industry. Sad end for a president with successes and lately many mistakes."
Regardless of this, the immediate concern is the premature departure of Bartomeu and his board of directors who were set to complete their tenure next year. Executive power will now be handed over to an interim board but it remains unclear when the presidential elections will be staged in order to determine Josep's true successor.
It should also be noted that this latest debacle came a day before Messi and Co's Champions League showdown with Juventus. Time will tell whether this will hurt the team on the pitch as prior behind-the-scenes dramas did several times before.
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
