Barça Approves Laporta's Accounts with a Large Majority Despite Red Balance

The general assembly of Barcelona approved on Saturday by a large majority (71.4% of the delegate members) the accounts for the 2023-2024 season, which closed with a red balance, with at least 91 million euros in losses. Joan Laporta pushed through last season's accounts with 452 votes in favor, 156 against, and 26 abstentions, after the opposition had demanded their rejection to strike a blow to the club president and force the board to reformulate them. The budget for the current season was also approved, with 409 votes in favor and only 75 against.

With a record telematic attendance of 927 delegates, Laporta received a boost to his management and boasted of Barça's economic recovery. 'We are much better than we were when we arrived at the club in 2021. We have healed a wound that has been bleeding since 2017 and have made many efforts to reduce expenses and increase income. Thanks to the levers, the members did not have to dig into their pockets,' assured the Blaugrana president when requesting the approval of last season's accounts, whose ordinary results, according to Laporta, 'are positive by 12 million.'

Laporta rebelled against the attacks, from within and, especially from outside the club, and called for 'unity.' 'We fight against everything and everyone. They have condemned us before judging us for the 'Negreira case.' And they stretch the gum. Every time we do well, they bring it up. We have to defend ourselves because they are eager to destroy us. We have to be strong. I do not share those apocalyptic predictions. They only manage not to tell the truth. I speak of the cave, who are the ones who are angry that we win,' proclaimed Laporta during his speech, alluding to the media aligned with the eternal rival.

Former Barça president Joan Gaspart supported Laporta's board's numbers and also took the opportunity during his speech to attack Real Madrid. 'At least we have a club with opposition, not like that other team that is ashamed of having been founded by two Catalans, whom I have already forgiven and who are in heaven,' said Gaspart, referring to the Padrós brothers, who founded the white club. 'I am going to vote yes to the accounts because this gentleman, whom I do not know (the treasurer Ferran Olivé), is a crack,' commented Gaspart.

Regarding the losses in the balance sheet for the 2023-2024 season, Laporta acknowledged that Barça Vision 'has not worked as expected and needs a billing process,' but, true to his style, he was optimistic about the foreseeable recovery of the company. 'There have been defaults, and we had to make provisions for defaults. We have been brave in facing these defaults, which lead us to negative results of 91 million. The auditor has added a qualification by changing the company's valuation due to these defaults. We have made a valuation of the company of 408 million. This is a very difficult technological business to value. According to experts, it is a gold mine and a huge source of income, and that is why we have given it such a value. We are calm, and it will soon generate profits,' ventured the top culé leader. Laporta feels strong again against the opposition, which in the weeks leading up to the assembly of delegates has raised its voice against his management.