Six Barcelona board members quit in protest at way the club is run

Barcelona have become engulfed in a crisis after six board members resigned in protest at how the club is run.

A joint letter signed by the sextet, which was published by Spanish newspaper

makes clear their dissatisfaction with president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Emili Rousaud and Enrique Tombas – two of the club’s four vice-presidents – have stepped down, as have directors Silvio Elias, Josep Pont, Jordi Calsamiglia and Maria Teixidor.

The six say they feel they are unable to sway how the club will be run in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and have called for fresh presidential elections.

The letter said: “We hereby want to communicate that the undersigned managers have transferred to president Bartomeu our decision to irrevocably resign from our position.

“We have reached this point by not being able to reverse the criteria and forms of management in the face of the important challenges of the future and, especially, from the new post-pandemic scenario.”

The six also expressed their dissatisfaction with how Barcelona handled allegations in February that a company was hired to post negative messages about the club’s players on social media in a bid to protect Bartomeu’s reputation.

Bartomeu branded the accusations of unethical practices “completely false”. The letter continued: “We must also highlight our disenchantment with the unfortunate episode on social networks, known as ‘Barcagate’, which we learned about through the press.”

Barcelona: Engulfed in crisis.