Joan Laporta confirmed as Barça president until 2031 | OneFootball

Joan Laporta will serve as Barcelona president until 2031 after claiming election victory on Sunday.

48,480 socis i sociès headed to polling stations across Catalunya for a highly-anticipated election, with 63-year-old Laporta emerging victorious against Victor Font, who also finished as the runner-up when they both ran for the presidency in 2021. 42.34% of eligible voters cast their ballots, with a sizeable majority opting for Laporta to extend his second term.

Voting stations closed at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET), with TV3’s exit poll suggesting that Laporta won 66% of the vote. Their poll also included questions over Messi’s future relationship with the club, which Font had used as a key campaign point and accused Laporta of fracturing.

3Cat found that 55% of those surveyed believe that the Argentine should return for a testimonial match, while 28% think he should be appointed as an honorary president and 10% suggest that he should return as a player.

While Marc-Andre ter Stegen was turned away from the voting stations as he did not appear on the electoral role, members of the Barça team headed to vote after their 5-2 victory against Sevilla.

Aitana Bonmatí, a three-time Ballon d’Or winner currently sidelined through injury, also voted at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday. She told the club’s official media channels: “It’s true that a lot of people showed up. I didn’t expect it, to be honest. It’s an honour to belong to this club, you know the feeling I have for this club. It’s a democratic club, socis i sociès can decide who will be the next president and the truth is that there are few clubs that can say that.”

Speaking before the result was officially confirmed, Font conceded victory and admitted “we didn’t get the result we were hoping for.

“It’s a shame but obviously we accept the result,” he added.