Barcelona announce board changes after resignations

Barcelona have moved to restructure their board after six directors resigned last week in protest at the way the club is being run, the Spanish side have said.

Two of the club's four vice presidents, Emili Rousaud and Enrique Tombas, were among those to announce their resignation in a letter to fans published in Spanish media on Friday.

They were joined by directors Silvio Elias, Josep Pont, Jordi Calsamiglia and Maria Texidor.

The departing directors had criticised the club's handling of a social media scandal and expressed doubts about the board's ability to handle the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a 70% players' pay cut.

Barcelona said the board had approved the appointments of Jordi Moix as vice president for economic and equity, Pau Vilanova as institutional vice president, Oriol Tomas as vice president of the commercial area, Marta Plana as board secretary, and David Bellver as treasurer.

"Javier Bordas will be the manager responsible for the football first team, while Xavier Vilajoana will be in charge of Barca B, the youth teams and women's football," Barcelona said in a statement.

The club added they would take legal action against Rousand for allegations that "seriously damage the institution's image".

"In the face of grave and unfounded allegations made by Emili Rousaud, the club's former vice president, in a number of media interviews, the board of directors categorically denies any action that could be described as corruption and have agreed to bring the corresponding criminal action accordingly," Barcelona said in an official statement.

"The Board of Directors have agreed that, once the audit is completed, it will analyse the content and conclusions derived from it, publish them, and will make their decisions and take appropriate measures based on their final result," it added.

Joan Blade, who is responsible for the club's basketball teams, would also now manage Barcelona's control and transparency committee, the club added.

The outgoing directors had asked president Josep Maria Bartomeu to call presidential elections and voiced "displeasure" over the club's hiring of a third party, I3 Ventures, earlier this year to monitor social media coverage of Barca.

Bartomeu has denied accusations the company created social media accounts to smear future presidential candidates, and former and current players but rescinded the club's contract with the firm anyway. I3 has also denied any wrongdoing.

Barcelona has been involved in a few controversies off late. There were reports that the club had hired a social media firm to disparage players in an effort to boost Barcelona president's reputation while there was also a highly-public spat between Lionel Messi and Eric Abidal.

Currently, all football action has come to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Barcelona are placed at the top of the La Liga competition with a two-point lead over arch-rivals Real Madrid.