Barcelona Board 'Considering Immediate Resignation' Over Referendum Talk

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is said to be contemplating encouraging the entire board to resign as the vote of no confidence in the president nears.

Well over 16,000 signatures were collected in an attempt to force the deeply unpopular Bartomeu out of Camp Nou earlier than expected, and the Barcelona board must now meet to set a date for the referendum.

Marca note that club officials will all meet on Monday to finalise the vote, which is expected to be held on November 1 or 2, but many at the club are said to be furious with the fact that fans will be encouraged to leave their homes to vote in the middle of a pandemic.

The board have argued that there is not enough time to implement all the safety regulations which, given Spain is currently in a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 outbreak, are stricter than simply following social distancing, so they are looking to force a 15-day delay to the vote.

Sport add that Barcelona CEO Óscar Grau wrote a letter to the local government arguing that it was not safe, but was stunned to receive a reply stating that there are no good reasons for Barcelona to delay the vote, especially since the local council are debating postponing their own vote for similar reasons.

Seemingly shocked by their treatment, Bartomeu is said to be contemplating encouraging each and every member of the club's hierarchy to walk away from the club after Monday's meeting.

Barcelona are prepared to hold a referendum and believe it should be done soon, but they are not prepared to do so during a global health crisis which could endanger lives by encouraging voters to leave their homes.

“We will not be complicit in this nonsense. People's lives are more important, because there will always be time to vote," a club source is quoted as saying.

The fun doesn't stop there, however. Barcelona's attempt to delay the vote has frustrated those trying to get Bartomeu out, and they are even threatening legal action against the club if they breach the terms of the no confidence vote.

Club rules state that Barcelona have 20 days to finalise a date for a vote after being issued with the motion, and any refusal to do so could see the case end up in court.

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