Official: Barcelona confirm structure of interim board as Yuste, Laporta cohabitate until June 30 | OneFootball

Barcelona have moved to eliminate any uncertainty regarding their leadership situation by formally explaining how authority will be managed during the ongoing transition period. 

Following a strategy meeting between Rafa Yuste and president-elect Joan Laporta, the club has now clarified exactly who holds decision-making power—and for how long.

The arrangement confirms that Yuste will continue as acting president until June 30, 2026. 

Only after that date will Laporta officially step into the role, with a new board set to take charge until 2031. 

Until then, the current leadership structure remains in place, with Josep Cubells taking on a central role as vice president and secretary.

What happens now?

In its official communication, Barcelona made it clear that there will be no ambiguity when it comes to authority during this period. 

The club stressed that all institutional and legal responsibilities remain exclusively with the current board.

“The current Board shall have sole authority for institutional representation before any bodies, institutions and third parties, as well as for any Club obligations, including the signing of documents and contracts, as well as for any decision-making and adoption of resolutions.”

The club also addressed how governance meetings will function, explaining that decision-making will not be shared, even if members of the incoming leadership are occasionally involved in discussions.

“Club governance body meetings shall be the exclusive domain of the current Board, notwithstanding and when considered appropriate, members of the incoming board can be invited or requested for their opinion on specific issues, without this being binding in any case.”

Rafa Yuste will remain in charge until June 30, 2026. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

This effectively means that while Laporta and his team may be present in certain situations, their role remains consultative rather than authoritative.

The same principle applies to public appearances. Barcelona confirmed that the incoming board will be able to attend matches and official events, but strictly in a limited capacity.

Explaining these conditions, the club stated, 

“The incoming Board members can choose to attend Club sports and institutional events as guests, in accordance with the provisions set out by the Protocol Department.”

To avoid any confusion, the statement further emphasised the boundaries of representation during this period.

“Under no circumstances shall they represent the institution formally nor act on behalf of FC Barcelona without a member of the current Board of Directors being present.”

Explaining the responsibilities

Beyond governance, the club also detailed how responsibilities will be distributed internally to ensure stability. 

Josep Cubells will take on expanded duties alongside Yuste, stepping away from his previous focus on basketball operations. 

That department will now be overseen by Sisco Pujol until the end of the current cycle.

Elsewhere, Joan Sole will broaden his role to include roller hockey and futsal in addition to handball, while Angel Riudalbas will oversee women’s football and financial matters. 

Josep Ignasi Macia continues to manage the social department, while financial oversight will be handled by Alfons Castro, who assumes responsibility as treasurer.