Laporta Lets Rip at Font: 'Lies and Club-Destabilising Nonsense' in Barça Election Scrap
Joan Laporta has blasted presidential rival Victor Font for 'lies' and destabilising FC Barcelona during a crucial season, defending Deco, Hansi Flick, and the club's staff. With Marc Ciria disqualified, the 15 March election is now a head-to-head. Laporta also dismissed a failed legal complaint against him as a politically motivated smear.
Laporta Lets Rip at Font: 'Lies and Club-Destabilising Nonsense' in Barça Election Scrap
Imagine settling in for a quiet pint, only to hear Joan Laporta unloading on Victor Font like it's half-time in El Clásico. With FC Barcelona's presidential election locked in as a straight shootout between the two – Marc Ciria binned for not scraping enough signatures – voting kicks off in just 10 days on 15 March. Laporta, chatting exclusively to Mundo Deportivo (as reported by Barca Universal via OneFootball), didn't mince words, branding Font's campaign a barrel of 'lies' and mid-season sabotage.
Font's Barbs Meet Laporta's Counter-Punch
Font's been chirping that Laporta's got no blueprint, just hot air. But Joan flipped the script, accusing his rival of obsessing over smears instead of solutions. 'He's bigging up the wreckers of the election process and chucking mud at me, our team, and all we've achieved,' Laporta fired back.
He reckon Font's ideas are about as fresh as last season's tactics board – stuff the board's already nailed. And the digs didn't stop: 'Demagogic fibs and flimsy conspiracy theories? Not on my watch.' It's like Laporta's channeling a feisty gaffer rallying the dressing room before extra time.
Font's no fan of Deco, Barça's sporting director and ex-midfield maestro, nor Hansi Flick calling the shots. He's slated their direction, but Laporta's having none of it. 'I'm dead proud of the lot – execs, staff, players, Flick, Deco. I won't let ambitious types with zero scruples bash them for votes,' he declared.
Why the obsession with slagging off key figures mid-season, Laporta wondered? 'Our sporting plan's crystal clear. Lay yours out, mate, and we'll stack 'em up. But stirring the pot now? That's poor show and screams he's not prez material.' Ouch – straight red for character assassination.
Smear Campaign? Laporta Shuts It Down
Laporta also tackled a complaint from socio Isidro Navarro, slung at him and the board over money laundering and dodgy payments. The National Court chucked it out quicker than a misplaced pass, but Joan smelled a rat. 'Signs point to backers pulling strings, full of porkies straight from certain news desks.'
He aimed squarely at Font: 'Gutted that the surviving candidate gave oxygen to a fresh-faced member refiling mid-election just to muck things up.' It's the kind of pub yarn where you wonder who's got the dodgier agenda – classic Barça drama, innit?
Laporta's first stint as president? He painted it as a golden era of solid graft, now under threat from opportunists. With the Camp Nou faithful watching, this duel could swing on who lands the killer soundbite. Font's yet to clap back, but expect fireworks as ballots drop.
Barça's on the pitch battling for silverware, yet off it, the boardroom's a cauldron. Laporta's pitching continuity and pride; Font's pushing change. Ten days to go – grab the popcorn (or another pint) and watch the Blaugrana brass duke it out.