Barcelona board resign to start presidential election

MADRID, July 26 (Reuters) Barcelona president Joan Laporta and his board resigned today to set in motion a presidential election at the club, as ordered by a Spanish judge last week.

A caretaker body headed by economist Xavier Sala y Martin will take charge of the European and Spanish champions during the campaign, and later today is expected to name Sept. 10 as the day for the ballot .

Last Wednesday, Judge Roberto Garcia Ceniceros upheld a complaint from three club members who said Laporta had already served his four-year tenure.

He ruled that according to the club's statutes the year ran from July to June, and that as Laporta officially took power on June 22, 2003 the eight days before the end of that month constituted his first year in office.

Laporta's four-year term would therefore have expired on June 30 this year.

A bid through the courts from four club members to have Laporta barred from standing again for breaking the club statutes was thrown out on Tuesday leaving him and his board free to present themselves for re-election.

The rival thought most likely to have given Laporta a run for his money, former vice-president Sandro Rossell, has declared his intention not to stand.

It remains to be seen whether Laporta will be challenged with other possible candidates complaining about the timing of the election campaign during the holidays.

Under Laporta Barca have just won back-to-back Primera Liga titles and the Champions League in May, but some of his recent decisions have angered club members and fans.

REUTERS DH PM1904