Check out the most liked posts on FC Barcelona's Facebook page in 2014.
FC Barcelona wishes to state, with all due respect for the sports authorities, that it totally disagrees with the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced today to confirm the sanction originally imposed by FIFA as a consequence of the alleged breach of regulations on the international transfer of minor footballers.
The Club has made it clear to the FIFA Disciplinary Commission, the FIFA Appeals Commission and the CAS itself that it understands and supports the policy on the protection of minors and the concern for the protection of their development and education.
This is confirmed by how they Club has acted throughout its history, setting an example around the world for the way its young footballers are schooled and educated, and the work that is done on their development. FC Barcelona’s youth structure has enabled hundreds of young players to achieve their dreams and receive a decent upbringing.
The errors that the Club might have committed, and which have been recognised and argued before the corresponding authorities are, in all cases, of an administrative nature and to a large extent have been caused by the existing conflict between the FIFA regulations and Spanish legislation, along with the Club’s conviction that it was acting correctly.
Therefore, FC Barcelona considers the sanction to be completely disproportionate as it supposes an excessive punishment for the Club, when considering its trajectory and the circumstances of this specific case.
In this regard, where the judicial grounds for the CAS decision are announced, the Club shall proceed by studying and evaluating the different legal options available, among others the possibility of appealing against the CAS arbitration to the Swiss Federal Courts.
After the announcement of the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which confirms the ban imposed previously by FIFA, the President of FC Barcelona Josep Maria Bartomeu has expressed his unhappiness with the decision. Below we reproduce his reaction:
“A great injustice has been committed today: an injustice for Barça, for all the children and parents affected by this decision, for all the Club members and for football in general.We have always made it clear that we consider FIFA’s sanction to be disproportionate. This judgement by CAS, which ratifies FIFA’s decision, is not good for us and defies all sporting logic.
FIFA and its President have to be an organisation which protects the footballing world and decisions like this distance it from this objective.We do not feel supported or protected by those people who should be doing this. The strict letter of the law has been observed, rather than the spirit in which it was written and a precedent that is not good for the game in general has been created- one which has attempted to tarnish the good name of our Club. I wish to announce that Barça, with myself in the lead, will fight to change this regulation and improve it.
I hope that FIFA will show sufficient common sense to re-write this regulation and that no other club will have to suffer this injustice. Despite everything, I can guarantee our members that this sanction does not endanger the sporting project at La Masia.
And I remain optimistic. On the one hand, we have a squad which offers sufficient guarantees to cover any possible needs of the first team and on the other, we have to bear in mind that the signings we made last summer to strengthen the squad were made with the possibility of this sanction in mind and to allow us to contend for all the possible titles we are competing for until this sanction is over”
FC Barcelona has consolidated its presence on global social networks in 2014 with more fans than ever uniting behind the Barça digital brand.
1. More than 68 million new followers have added themselves to the more than 40 Barça social profiles on Facebook (9), Twitter (15), Instagram (2), LINE (6), Youtube, Dailymotion, Google+, WeChat, Sina Weibo, Tencent Weibo, TuneIn, BBM and Pinterest.
2. Just on Facebook, Barça has added more than 45 million new followers on all its official accounts.
3. The Club’s global account on Facebook has reached the figure of 30 million fans and their published contents have made 29.9 billion impressions.
4. Barça’s 15 Twitter accounts have added 5.8 million followers this year, maintaining their global leadership in the realm of sport.
5. Barça’a global account on Twitter has added 2.8 million new followers, pursued by @fcbarcelona_es (1,6M),@fcbarcelona_cat (600k) and @fcbarcelona_br (143k).
6. On Instagram Barça has added more than 4 million followers, a 315% increase on last season.
7. During 2014 there have been more than 90 million views (equivalent to an estimated 225 million minutes) on Barça’s official Youtube channel which has 415,000 new subscribers.
8. In 2014 Barça has created six new channels on social media, strengthening their video platform and Asian channels with Vine, Dailymotion, Wechat, Sina Weibo, Tune in as well as the Instagram account for the other professional club sections (@fcbseccions).
9. The Club’s official Google+ account has added more than 1.9 million followers and retains its lead on a global level.
10. Barça now has six official accounts on LINE with more than 23 million followers, an increase of 6.4 million during 2014.
11. Barça now has more than 7 million followers in China with the opening this year of WeChat, Sina (4 million) to add to its Tencent profile and the Club’s official website.
12. Indonesia is the country with most fans both on Facebook (8.5 million) and Twitter (1.4 million). The Club has an official Twitter account and an official website in Indonesian.
13. The Club’s professional sporting sections now have more than 15 million followers between their own specific Facebook and Twitter accounts.
14. The Club ends the year with more than 175 million followers on their various social profiles, consolidating their position as number one in the digital sports field.
During 2014, a number of well-loved people connected with the Club passed away. As the year comes to an end, we remember them.
Josep Seguer (02/01/2014). First team player from 1943 to 1957.
Luis Aragonés (01/02/2014). First team coach 1987/88.
Isidre Flotats (12/03/2014). First team player from 1952 al 1960.
Enric Ribelles (19/03/2014). First team player from 1955 al 1961.
Ferran Ariño (19/03/2014). Board Member of FC Barcelona under Agustí Montal Costa and Raimon Carrasco.
Tito Vilanova (25/04/2014). First team coach 2012/13 and assistant manager from 2008/09 to 2011/12.
Joan Lacueva (07/05/2014). Board Member of FC Barcelona from 2000 to 2003.
Eduard Kucharski (02/10/2014). First team basketball player in the 40s and 50s and coach from 1977 to 1979.
Gustau Biosca (01/11/2014). First team player from 1950 to1958.
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On Wednesday 7 January at 4.00pm (CET) in the Ricard Maxenchs Press Room at Camp Nou, President Josep Maria Bartomeu will hold a press conference.
Later that day at 8.00pm (CET), at the Club offices, there will be a meeting of the FC Barcelona Board to discuss solely the subject of the ban imposed on FC Barcelona by FIFA.
The new year is here and has splashed onto the twelve-month canvas in a decidedly two-tone tinge of FC Barcelona's famous blue and claret. Greeting us as we reset our annual clocks is the premier of Àlex de la Iglesias' new documentary ‘Messi’, an extraordinary and emotional film giving an unprecedented look at the life of the world's best player, from his early childhood back in Argentina to his beginnings at Barça, told through the eyes of those who were closest to him as he became the player he is today.
FC Barcelona wants to encourage everyone to go and see this incredible film by offering a special buy one, get one free deal on regularly priced Camp Nou Experience tickets to anyone presenting their 'Messi´documentary ticket stub at the Club's ticket office. This offer is valid from now until March 31st.
The Camp Nou Experience is a one-of-a-kind chance to discover a place where history and sport are rolled up into one magical journey that will transport you through the annals of FC Barcelona's past, examining the Club's deep connection to Catalonia and the world, and which will show you why it is "more than a club".
Leo Messi once again claimed the prestigious award in Zurich in record breaking fashion. The Argentine beat Cristiano Ronaldo and team mate Andrés Iniesta to claim the Ballon d’Or for the fourth time, beating the previous record of three awards held by Michel Platini, Marco Van Basten and Johan Cruyff.
Messi’s Ballon d’Or reign began back in December 2009 when he took the individual prize for the very first time, finishing with 473 points ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi Hernández.
A year later he claimed the famous trophy for the second time with Barça taking a clean sweep of the top places. Andrés Iniesta finished in runners-up position and Xavi Hernández in third place in what was a memorable night in Zurich for the blaugranes.
Messi’s hat trick of Ballon d’Or award came in 2011. Once again he pipped Cristiano Ronaldo and team mate Xavi Hernández to the prize, equalling Michel Platini’s feat of three successive awards.
The FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu appears before the press in the Ricard Maxenchs press room.
The FC Barcelona statutes, passed in 2013 by the Members’ Representatives General Assembly set out three clear points to be followed:
- When elections are called because of the normal end of a Presidential term, which is not anticipated except for the case laid out in article 35.4 involving the naming of an interim board, they must be called within the last six months of the term and with sufficient notice to ensure they occur before the end of the Presidential term.
- When elections are called as a result of the end of a Board’s Term with the naming of an interim board as laid out in article 35.4, this interim board must call elections within three months of assuming their posts.
- Elections for the Club President must take place between March 15 and June 15 immediately before the end of the Presidential term of office, unless this is impossible as a result of the application of article 35.4. Every effort should be made to call the elections on a day when the first team are playing at the Camp Nou.
President Jose Maria Bartomeu announced during a press conference this Wednesday and after discussions with his Board members, that he will be calling Presidential elections at the end of this season. Bartomeu explained he’d taken the decision “to lower the tension at the Club right now” – a tension which is “disproportionate and doesn’t reflect the reality of the Club. My aim is to protect the Club from a level of tension which is not helping us to manage it. All this affects the team and that’s why we are calling elections at the end of the season – to lower the tension and help the team”.
Bartomeu also announced that he will be a candidate for the post and called on all other future aspirants to respect “fair play” and get behind the team for what is left of this season: “there will be time to debate our projects, but until the campaigning period begins, we have to get behind the team, which is the most important thing for the Club”. Amongst other issues which will likely appear in the campaign is the proposal for a new first team shirt sponsor, which has to be approved during the 2015 Members’ Representatives Assembly.
The President reminded the media at his press conference of the Club’s buoyant economic situation and the Espai Barça project, approved by members in a referendum last year and reiterated that he felt the majority of Club members were not unhappy with the current situation: “the members are feeling their ownership of the Club more with every day, they have realised that the Club’s finances are working and are happy to see we have a project for our assets and we are building the team”.
Finally, the President insisted that during the months leading up to the elections it is important for everyone to pull in the same direction because: “if we have a great season we make Barça great and if we are great we will be are unstoppable”.
President Bartomeu also spoke about the recent CAS decision on FIFA’s sanction: “FIFA have not told us who made the original charge and during the period of the sanction we will not maintain any institutional relations with them. I have sent a stern letter to Sepp Blatter and I will not be attending the FIFA Balon D’Oro gala set for January 12”.
[[DES_1]] During the press conference to announce, Presidential elections at the end of the 2014/15 season, Josep Maria Bartomeu also spoke about the current sporting situation of the first team and defended the figures of Leo Messi and Luis Enrique. Following reports of a rift between the two, President Bartomeu insisted that the “best player in the world” and the coach had a “fine” relationship and made it clear: “we can’t go around rebutting every story that appears in the press”. [[CITA_1]]
Josep Maria Bartomeu made a fierce defence of Leo Messi, reminding the assembled media: “Messi has a contract, he’s happy and he wants to win things with Barça. We are very relaxed about our relationship with him. He is the leader of the team, he’s the best player in the world and is playing with some great players at Barça. Messi is a leader in the squad and that is the way we want him to continue”.
After Luis Enrique declared this lunchtime that his position had been weakened by the departure of Andoni Zubizarreta because of the relationship between them, Bartomeu made it clear that he viewed the coach’s reaction as “normal – they had worked together a lot, but now we are starting a new era. Over the next few days I will be announcing the new sporting director and I am sure he will work well with Luis Enrique, just as Zubizarreta has done so far. Luis Enrique has got a new project on his hands. He’s working with a lot of new players and he is the right man for the job. You can’t put together a new project in three or four months – he has a contract till 2016 and we are on the right track”.
Bartomeu gave a few clues as to the new sporting director, insisting: “we aren’t looking for anyone from outside. We want someone with Barça in their blood and who is closely linked to our idea of football”. The President also explained that “Puyol’s leaving is not connected to Zubizarreta’s departure. He has new projects in mind and he wants to get ready for them. I am clear that Puyol will return to FC Barcelona”.[[CITA_2]]
- Luis Enrique confident and motivated
- The FC Barcelona squad get ready for the Cup
Training session (07/01/15): The squad get... por fcbarcelona
- Bartomeu: “Messi is a leader in the squad”
The competition ‘Action Barcelona’, organised jointly by the Catalan Tourist Board, Tencent, Qatar Airways and FC Barcelona, has been one of the most long awaited events for Barça’s Chinese fans. This year sees the fourth edition of the initiative and as expected, large numbers of Chinese fans have taken part in the initial selection phase which has just come to an end. Now, only 30 candidates remain for the next stage of the competition.
Those participants that remain will have to present themselves via a video and tell their own blaugrana story. The winners will get the opportunity to come to the Camp Nou to see the blaugranes take on Villarreal on February 1 of this year. Since ‘Action Barcelona’ was lauched the website and its official account on Wechat have received millions of visits.
The entries to the competition have been of an outstanding variety and quality. There have been videos, magazines, oil paintings amongst other creative propositions. One young Barça fan has put together an amazing animation to express their own interpretation of the blaugranes’ history and tradition.
The final decision on the winners of the competition will be taken on January 11 and the lucky winners will get the chance to enjoy a week-long visit to Catalonia. As well as the trip to Camp Nou to see a game live in the flesh, and the other world famous tourist attractions in the city of Barcelona, they will also have the opportunity to visit other Catalan cities such as Girona and Figueres.
Josep Maria Bartomeu, in New York for the presentation of the 1 in 11 campaign, called on the team's faithful to unify in a show of support for the team, culminating a turbulent week for the Catalan Club in which Bartomeu had already announced that elections would be moved up and called at the end of the season.
Bartomeu, the Club president, also denied reports that were featured on a regional television network back in Catalonia which claimed that the team's star player, Leo Messi, personally called for the firing on head coach Luis Enrique and his team of assistants. Bartomeu said: "I saw that report and it is absolutely false. It couldn't be further from the truth." He continued: “I am in the dressing room after the games, and I talk to the players and coaches. I know for a fact that this report is totally baseless."
Bartomeu also talked about the atmosphere after their last match against Elche: "We were all really happy because we had just won 5-0 and had virtually clinched a berth in the quarterfinals. I spoke with Messi, Adriano, Neymar, of course also with Luis Enrique. We've got our minds on the next match, against Atlético Madrid, a match that requires the utmost concentration."
He also reiterated one more time that Messi is happy in Barcelona. "There are always teams who want Messi. But I believe that Messi is so happy here that it doesn't matter who wants him. A few days ago I read that Paris Saint-Germain wanted him, today it's Chelsea...He's the best player in the world so it's normal that everyone wants him on their team. But he's already with FC Barcelona, and he's been with us since he was 13 years old. He's content and he's motivated, as are the rest of his teammates, and he just wants to play well and win."
The topic of the Club's elections also came up, and Bartomeu repeated what he said on Wednesday: "We haven't set a date yet, but we want to do it at the end of the season and we have time to get things ready."
The 1 in 11 campaign that was presented on Friday in an event at UNICEF headquarters in New York has received widespread international attention both on social and traditional media.
The video of Leo Messi inviting the fans to participate in the 'keep ups' challenge received 1,964,848 visits on Facebook in the first 36 hours after its release, along with more than 135,000 likes, 3,000 comments and over 7,000 shares. On Twitter, the hashtag '1 in 11' was mentioned 3,000 times.
The official video of '1 in 11' featuring Leo Messi and Serena Williams, will premier at halftime of the FC Barcelona v Atlético Madrid match. In it, the two athletes make a call for people to join this project which aims to improve access to education for children Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nepal. The video will also be shown exclusively on Bein Sports during halftime of tonight's broadcast, bringing it global attention.
This will add to the dissemination already made in several media outlets from around the world. The British newspapers Mail on Line and The Daily Mirror showed the video of Leo Messi and Serena Williams encouraging fans to participate.
The Japan Times focuses on Takashi Murakami, the renowned Japanese painter who not only designed the official image of the campaign, but has also donated one of his works to raise money for the project. Along with Murakami, some fifteen renowned international artists including Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Richard Serra have contributed to the campaign. These works of art will be auctioned off on February 12 by the prestigious auction house Sotheby's.
Artist Takashi Murakami, one of the campaign's main contributors, was photographed with his fans wearing an FC Barcelona shirt:
The British newspaper The Guardian focuses specifically on one of Hirst's works of art: his portrait of Leo Messi. Other media outlets from around the world have echoed the news including the Gulf Times, France Press, the lnternational Business Times, and the Jakarta Post, among others.
FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu used his stay in New York to give interviews to the international media to talk about this charitable project which is being driven by the FC Barcelona Foundation, as well as other Club news. Bartomeu was interviewed by Univision Deportes, global sports channel Bein Sports, ESPN, and The Wall Street Journal, one of the world's major economic newspapers.
FC Barcelona and Castle Lager this Monday have announced they are adding the African countries of Kenya and Nigeria to their current agreement signed in 2013. The three year partnership places Castle Lager as the official beer of FC Barcelona across the majority of the African continent except in certain areas where Castle Milk Stout is the official African stout of FC Barcelona.
This latest expansion adds two more countries to the successful collaboration between Africa’s premier Lager and FC Barcelona. Laurent Colette, FC Barcelona Commercial Chief Officer, highlighted the importance of the agreement for the Club: “Africa is becoming a very important player in the world of football, with millions of fans following the best players around the world, and also thanks to the continent’s fabulous talent. Through our association with Castle, we are getting closer to Africa and providing more communication platforms between FC Barcelona and African fans.”
According to Mr. Alastair Hewitt, Africa Spokesperson for CASTLE Lager parent company SAB Miller, “FC Barcelona’s decision to partner with Africa’s premier beer brand has definitely contributed to boosting the team’s popularity on the continent and has already seen some of the club’s coaches conducting coaching clinics in the some of the markets as part of their skills transfer initiatives.”
The initial deal signed by FC Barcelona and Castle Lager is a first for the club with a company based in Africa and has allowed Castle Lager consumers and Barça fans across the continent to have easier access to their favourite football club.
In December, FC Barcelona called on the fans to send in their photos to the #NadalFCB competition, and hundreds obliged by posting pictures on Instagram, the biggest photography website in the world. The best ten were picked out for prizes.
@gabijava11, @sdorelst, @rtq5, @samfcb3Sameer, @lucky_limayer, @liaofelix1, @mojca.smrdelj, @henwinner, @kirstfin and @isakwarnman were named as the winners and their creativity will be rewarded with first team shirts.
The competition was a huge hit, generating 2.64 million ‘likes’ on Instagram.
The winners now have 15 days to contact the club to claim their prizes. They can do so by sending an email to nadalfcbarcelona@gmail.com.
