Pressure mounts on Laporta

Bara supremo under pressure to resign

By James Pearson   Last updated: 30th May 2008

Pressure mounts on Laporta

Giralt delivers the boxes

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The pressure on Barcelona president Joan Laporta is mounting with a club member's bid looking certain to force a vote of censure.

With many unhappy at a second consecutive season without silverware Laporta is under heavy pressure to depart after four years in charge.

Member Oriol Giralt presented 12 boxes containing the signatures of 9,473 club members demanding a vote of censure, 3,591 more than the minimum required for such a measure to take place.

Giralt admitted his surprise at the number of members wanting the action, stating Laporta needs to take heed of their desire to remove him from office.

Surprise

"Even we are surprised by how many people have signed," stated Giralt, who believes that forcing the action will be harder than winning the vote.

"The number is exceptional....The president should reflect on the fact that the majority of members are asking him to leave.

"I honestly think that getting enough signatures for the vote to go ahead is more difficult than winning the actual vote."

Laporta's opponents would need to have the support of over two-thirds of voters with a minimum turnout of 10 per cent of members entitled to vote if they are to force a presidential election.