The situation surrounding the redevelopment of the Spotify Camp Nou has become a growing source of controversy at Barcelona, and it is now at the centre of the club’s political debate.
Following the chaos caused by a sudden storm during the Barça–Oviedo match, images of severe leaks inside the stadium spread rapidly on social media, creating an embarrassing moment for the current board led by Joan Laporta.
Those scenes have provided fresh ammunition for Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font, who has openly questioned the management of the Espai Barça project.
Speaking at a public event, Font launched a direct and uncompromising challenge to Laporta’s leadership.
He began by linking the weekend’s events to what he sees as deeper structural failures within the club’s governance.
He accused the board of directors of making a critical error when awarding the stadium renovation contract to Limak, a decision he believes ignored technical warnings. He stated:
“The firm with the lowest rating from the Espai Barça project’s technical experts .”
More criticism towards Laporta
Expanding on that criticism, Font argued that the visible problems at the stadium are a symptom of poor decision-making at the top. He said:
“The leaks we saw this weekend are a reflection of management that is falling apart.
“The decision by Barça’s board of directors to award the contract to Limak, a construction company with no previous experience in Europe or in the construction of large stadiums.
Camp Nou had visible leaks last weekend. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
“The worst rated by Espai Barça technicians has blown any rigorous planning out of the water and condemns members to suffer inconveniences until at least 2028,” he said.
No progress off the field
Font used the moment to formally frame his campaign as a clear choice for club members, adding a blunt political message – “Either Laporta or Barça.”
His aim, he explained, is to mobilise members who may be satisfied with sporting results but deeply unhappy with how the club is being run off the pitch.
“Once again, members are suffering the consequences of a model based on personality cults and improvisation, rather than a model based on putting the best people in the world in charge of all areas of the club.
“Only a well-managed club will be able to maintain the model of ownership in the hands of the members; and only a well-managed club will be able to sustain sporting results in the long term.”
Questioning the process
Font then turned to technical details of the tender process, revealing that Limak’s proposal reportedly scored below 50 points out of 100 in internal evaluations.
Despite those warnings, the board proceeded, prioritising financial terms that technicians themselves had deemed unrealistic.
“We were promised a stadium that would be ready in November 2024, and now we know that we will not have maximum capacity until December 2027 or beyond.
“This lack of foresight means that the club will have to live with a stadium under construction and structural deficiencies until at least 2028,” he concluded.
Source: AS
