Barcelona member takes legal action against Laporta ahead of March elections

Barcelona’s already-tense presidential race has been jolted by a last-minute lawsuit. Days before members head to the polls on 15 March, club member Isidro Navarro has filed a legal complaint against incumbent Joan Laporta, alleging that Laporta received money through unjustified commissions, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The timing is critical: Laporta’s board resigned recently, a procedural move that allows the president to stand for re-election, and the vote is expected to steer the club through a pivotal period both on and off the pitch. Navarro, who reactivated a lapsed membership and is based in Toledo rather than Barcelona itself, argues that the financial allegations should be examined before members decide whether to renew Laporta’s mandate.

Club statutes permit any socio in good standing to challenge candidates, and Navarro’s action ensures the courts will at least review the complaint before ballots are cast. Laporta’s campaign has not yet issued a formal response to the suit, but the development adds fresh drama to an election already billed as one of the most consequential in the club’s modern history.