‘The difference is a surprise‘ — Victor Font reacts to loss as Joan Laporta wins FC Barcelona presidential election | OneFootball

The presidential elections at FC Barcelona have officially concluded, with Joan Laporta securing a commanding victory and earning another mandate to lead the Catalan club. His rival Victor Font publicly accepted defeat shortly after the vote count began to take shape, acknowledging the clear outcome of the election.

Speaking after the results began to emerge, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Font congratulated Laporta and recognized the scale of the victory:

“I want to congratulate Joan Laporta on an indisputable victory at the ballot box.”

He also expressed gratitude to the club’s members for their participation in the election process and highlighted what he believes makes Barcelona unique among football institutions:

“I want to thank all the members who came out to vote. That shows we are the best club in the world. And also everyone who placed their trust in the candidacy for change.”

Despite the respectful tone, Font admitted that the outcome fell well short of what his campaign had hoped to achieve and acknowledged the disappointment within his team:

“It is more than obvious that we did not achieve the results we hoped for, and you can understand that we are disappointed.

He also suggested that the club’s electoral system may need improvements in the future to encourage even greater participation among members:

“Participation would surely have been higher. From this process, we can conclude that we must modernize the club’s electoral process.”

Font emphasized that his project for the club goes beyond the result of a single election and insisted that the vision he has promoted for years remains intact:

“We are sad because we were very excited about transforming the club and bringing it closer to its people. It is a pity. But we accept the result, as we must, and we congratulate the elected president, Joan Laporta, and his board of directors.”

The defeated candidate reiterated his belief in a different model for Barcelona and confirmed that he intends to continue advocating for it in the future:

“What we have been advocating for a long time is a different Barça. It is a cause we will continue to defend. It is a noble cause, a cause for the country, that is well worth it. I will continue working and striving so that Barça becomes the club I dream of.”

Font also reflected on how sporting success can often shape the perception of the club’s broader issues, especially during an election cycle:

“It’s difficult to analyze things in the heat of the moment. The ball and the sporting results count a lot, sometimes above other issues that are not working or social and economic situations that have a long way to go. Even so, there are thousands of members convinced that the club needs other changes.”

The scale of the defeat also came as a surprise to Font, though he emphasized that the members’ vote must always be respected:

“The difference is a surprise, but the decisions are made by the members with their vote. Now we will have to draw conclusions.”

Even in defeat, Font attempted to lower tensions and stress unity around the club following the election:

“This is not the moment to evaluate in depth what has happened. It is the moment to congratulate the winners. We are disappointed, but the cause we defend goes beyond the short-term results of the first football team.”

Looking ahead, Victor Font confirmed that he intends to remain involved in discussions about the future direction of Barcelona:

“I strongly believe in this cause, regardless of the role I may have. We are convinced that the Barça we dream of will arrive sooner rather than later. I will keep fighting so that the club of my life becomes what I dream of.”

Finally, he made it clear that he does not intend to take a confrontational stance against the newly elected leadership and instead offered his support to the club’s new administration:

“Rather than opposition, the winning president should now have our support. All the work we have done is once again at the disposal of the club. And it is also important that there is a counterpoint to the official version.”

In hindsight, Victor Font will have to re-evaluate his election strategy. Throwing mud on the opposition might not be the best possible way to try to dethrone Laporta, and it’s time for him to get back to the drawing board and start over for 2031.