FC Barcelona said on Monday that club president Joan Laporta has formally stepped down from his role with effect from Feb. 9, 2026, a move the club described as a procedural requirement under its statutes to enable him to stand for re-election in upcoming presidential elections.
In a statement, the club said Laporta’s resignation was carried out in line with Article 42.f of Barcelona’s statutes, which obliges a sitting president to relinquish office before contesting a new mandate. The presidential elections are scheduled to take place on March 15, 2026.
Barcelona stressed that the resignation does not stem from internal disputes, governance failures or institutional instability, but is instead a statutory step tied to the electoral process. Laporta is expected to be a candidate in the vote, seeking to extend his leadership beyond the current term.
With Laporta stepping aside, the club will be overseen by an interim board until the conclusion of the present mandate on June 30, 2026. Vice-president Rafael Yuste has been appointed interim president during this period, the club said.
The interim administration will be responsible for ensuring the continuity of day-to-day operations and maintaining institutional stability in the weeks leading up to the election. Under the club’s rules, the caretaker leadership is restricted from taking major strategic or financial decisions that could bind the next elected board, except where necessary for the ordinary functioning of the organisation.
Laporta, a lawyer by training, has been one of the most influential and polarising figures in Barcelona’s modern history. He first served as president between 2003 and 2010, a period widely regarded as one of the most successful eras in the club’s sporting history, before returning to office in 2021 after winning elections held amid severe financial strain and organisational uncertainty.
During his current tenure, Laporta has overseen sweeping financial restructuring measures aimed at stabilising the club’s balance sheet following years of mounting debt. These efforts have included asset sales, commercial partnerships and cost-cutting initiatives, alongside attempts to restore competitiveness on the pitch after the departure of several high-profile players in recent seasons.
The club has not indicated whether Laporta will formally launch his re-election campaign immediately following his resignation. Barcelona’s statutes allow former presidents who meet eligibility requirements to contest elections, provided they step aside from office in advance and comply with financial guarantee obligations set out in the rules.
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Rafael Yuste, who now assumes the interim presidency, has been a close ally of Laporta and part of the current board since 2021. In previous roles, Yuste has been involved in sporting and institutional affairs, including negotiations related to football operations and relations with external bodies. The club said the interim board will operate collectively until a new president is elected.
Barcelona’s electoral process typically involves a campaign period during which candidates present their programmes to the club’s membership, known as “socios,” who have the right to vote. Turnout in recent elections has been closely watched as a measure of internal confidence and engagement amid broader challenges facing the club.
The announcement comes at a time when Barcelona continues to balance competitive ambitions with financial constraints. The club remains subject to domestic and European financial regulations, and its leadership has repeatedly said long-term sustainability is a priority alongside sporting success.
Club officials said the resignation would not affect ongoing sporting or administrative plans in the short term. Football operations, commercial activities and infrastructure projects are expected to continue under existing frameworks while the interim board is in place.
Barcelona did not comment on the field of potential challengers Laporta may face in the March election. In previous contests, presidential races have attracted candidates from business, legal and sporting backgrounds, often campaigning on platforms focused on financial management, youth development and institutional governance.
The club added that further details regarding the electoral calendar, including deadlines for candidate registration and campaign regulations, will be communicated to members in due course, in line with statutory requirements.
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Laporta has not issued a separate personal statement following the club’s announcement. His supporters view the move as a routine step ahead of a democratic process, while critics have said the election will serve as a referendum on his handling of the club’s financial recovery and sporting direction.
Barcelona, founded in 1899 and owned by its members rather than private shareholders, is one of the world’s most prominent football institutions. Presidential elections are a central feature of its governance model, often shaping the club’s strategic path for years at a time.
The interim leadership under Yuste will remain in place until either a new president is elected and formally takes office or until the end of the current term on June 30, 2026, whichever comes first, the club said.