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| General view of Barca’s Camp Nou stadium |
Barcelona have moved to restructure their board after six directors resigned last week in protest at the way the club is being run, the Spanish side have said.
Two of the clubโs four vice presidents, Emili Rousaud and Enrique Tombas, were among those to announce their resignation in a letter to fans published in Spanish media on Friday.
They were joined by directors Silvio Elias, Josep Pont, Jordi Calsamiglia and Maria Texidor.
The departing directors had criticised the clubโs handling of a social media scandal and expressed doubts about the boardโs ability to handle the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a 70% playersโ pay cut.
Barcelona said the board had approved the appointments of Jordi Moix as vice president for economic and equity, Pau Vilanova as institutional vice president, Oriol Tomas as vice president of the commercial area, Marta Plana as board secretary, and David Bellver as treasurer.
โJavier Bordas will be the manager responsible for the football first team, while Xavier Vilajoana will be in charge of Barca B, the youth teams and womenโs football,โ Barcelona said in a statement.
The club added they would take legal action against Rousand for allegations that โseriously damage the institutionโs imageโ.
Joan Blade, who is responsible for the clubโs basketball teams, would also now manage Barcelonaโs control and transparency committee, the club added.
The outgoing directors had asked president Josep Maria Bartomeu to call presidential elections and voiced โdispleasureโ over the clubโs hiring of a third party, I3 Ventures, earlier this year to monitor social media coverage of Barca.
Bartomeu has denied accusations the company created social media accounts to smear future presidential candidates, and former and current players but rescinded the clubโs contract with the firm anyway. I3 has also denied any wrongdoing.
REUTERS
