Joan Laporta, who was one of Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu's rivals during this summer's election, criticized Bartomeu's management of the club, according to Jordi Quixano of EL PAÍS. Laporta, who was president of Barcelona from '03-07, said, "They took advantage of the treble the players won and this has covered a board that with every day adds reasons it should not remain in charge." Laporta "did not rule out running in the next elections" and requested that Bartomeu step down "because the club is in a very delicate situation." He added that he did not attend the club's recent general assembly, but followed it online, saying, "I will not attend any club function until the current board withdraws the claim it has filed against me. They said it was because I left the club with debts and a judge said the opposite. ... Bartomeu lies more all the time, he is a compulsive liar and a hypocrite" (EL PAÍS, 10/26).
NEW STRUCTURE: In Barcelona, Luis Mendiola reported Barcelona's sports teams will now incorporate a "newly created position: that of general manager." This person will be responsible for his or her sport, directing the project "from the youth level to the first team." The new structure was presented by VP Jordi Mestre and Dir of Professional Sports Albert Soler. Joan Creus was named GM of basketball, while David Barrufet will manage handball and Toni Miró will manage roller hockey. A GM of indoor football "has not yet been named" (EL PERIODICO, 10/26).
EXPANSION CONTINUES: The FCBEscola project continued its int'l expansion with the opening of a football school in China: the FCBEscola Qingdao Huanghai. The project stems from FCBEscola's partnership with Huanghai Pharmaceutical (Barcelona).
