I remember back in the summer of 2003 attending a press conference organised by the Elefant Blau during the FC Barcelona presidential election campaign at which the then candidate Joan Laporta sat side by side with his running mate Sandro Rosell.
There was a sense of positive expectation. The Elefant Blau had made huge a huge advance on the collective consciousness of football fans worldwide as a grassroots movement that believed in democracy , transparency , and financial accountability. A new era was beckoning after decades during which Barca ‘s image as mes que un club had ended up being rather tarnished by the despotic rule and alleged financial irregularities of Jose Luis Nunez.
No matter that Laporta was a little known lawyer with a father in law strongly associated with the Franco regime, or that Rosell was a senior executive with Nike, or that their campaign had ended up predicated on a false promise that David Beckham was on his way to Barca and not Real Madrid. Instead of Beckham, the Elefant Blau delivered on Ronaldinho which after all seemed a more logical arrangement given Rosell’s strong commercial ties with Brazilian football at the time.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then. Laporta went on to be elected and he fell out big time with Rosell who then succeeded him as president, and the two men ended up throwing a great deal of mud at each other . The unresolved and rather unpleasant legal battle of action and counter action has done the reputation of either men not much good although there is little sign of a tactical reconciliation.
On the contrary Rosell continues to generate opposition over his decision to strike a massive sponsorship deal with Qatar. No matter that Pep Guardiola was once a player in Qatar, and helped support the arab country’s controversial bid for the 2022 World Cup or that an alleged whistleblower confessed earlier this summer that she had invented claims of bribery of FIFA votes or that Qatar was cited by the Financial Times last week as a key supporter of the beloved Libyan revolution, having armed and financed anti-Gaddafy rebels.
For the critics, the image of Qatar is of an autocratic state that mistreats its women and its foreign workers and which is at odds with FC Barcelona’s identity with democracy and the ‘purity’ of its shirt. It’s a debate that is being fuelled by former allies of Laporta who nonetheless should realise that Rosell’s presidency will remain pretty unassailable as long as Barca continues to win trophies and dazzle the world with the brilliance of its football not least that played by the club’s recent not inexpensive signing Cesc Fabregas.
Jimmy, your blogs are getting better, much more balanced.
Yes, there are nasty smells leaking out of the Barcelona camp:
– The Nuñez scandals coming to light in the courts, mirroring the powerful presidents of the Madrid football clubs and their construction empires.
– Rosell opening the books and showing up Laporta’s extravagant lifestyle using the clubs funds, and which had more to do with his political aspirations than promoting Barcelona FC. Rampant caciquismo which is one of the most negative aspects of the Iberian culture – so much for Cataluña being different!
– The Qatar connection which is very controversial, not just women, foreign wokers, aiding other dictator…but just look at their laws on homosexuality! No-one has investigated Guardiloa’s involvement in promoting this regime’s extraordinary coup in staging the World Cup, in relation to what he was paid – ironic too, all the Catalan hot air about Franco and here they are actively supporting a dictatorship!!
And still you forget to remind your readers that Barcelona is a totally insolvent institution, which only exists thanks to the Catalan junta’s interest, mainly via the Caixa Savings bank, in keeping the club afloat.
Jimmy, Some good points raised as ever… But also Rosell has also made a fundamental change as to who can and cannot become a Soci. Before Rossell’s coming to power anyone who had the inclination to become a member was able too.. Wherever in the world… It was club open to anyone…. To me that is what really attracted me to the club… Regardless of creed, colour or language… we were all welcome…. to me that this is what made Barca “More Than A Club”. Since coming to power Rossell has changed this placing restrictions on becoming a member… It means if i wanted to become a member now i would not be able too.. What message does that send out… More than Just a club…. but only if you you can meet certain criteria to become a member..
Interesting point. Smacks of Orwell’s Animal Farm, where those in charge gave the rest rules, and in particular, the Seven Commandment: “All animals are equal”. The ammended phrase then famously read: “but some animals are more equal than others.” In this case the Catalan nationalists will I assume adjust as follows: “All membership opportunities are equal, as long as Catalan is spoken & understood”……… 😉