Barcelona’s Election Blowout: Font Locks Horns with Laporta as Fans Hold the Cardboard Vote
22 January 2026
What does Sevilla have to do with the Catalan club's presidential battle?
Election timing under scrutiny
Victor Font, a leading Barcelona presidential candidate, criticized the timing of the 2026 elections amid the ongoing clash with current president Joan Laporta.
Font, who previously ran for the presidency, argued the date clearly serves Laporta's interests, stressing that holding elections in the middle of a packed football season shows insufficient consideration for fan involvement.
Font told Sport that the timing is important and that it seems designed to fit Laporta; he noted that staging elections amid Champions League fixtures is not ideal, but warned that they had anticipated it.
Implications for match day
Barcelona are due to face Sevilla in La Liga on March 15, the same day as the club elections.
Font added: We are fully prepared. These elections are pivotal for Barcelona's future, and it's time to bring the club back to its true members.
In a related move, Font proposed to the current board measures to boost member participation, especially given the date coincides with the Sevilla match at the Camp Nou.
Font also argued that the plan should reserve the Sevilla match for members with affordable tickets to boost participation. This alignment with a key La Liga clash is seen as a test of Barca's governance.
Punchline: If elections were a match, Laporta would be the only guy who keeps arguing with the referee and still gets a standing ovation.
Punchline 2: In football as in politics, the offside rule applies to bad ideas too.
