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Explosive new twist in Lionel Messi's fight with Barcelona

australian associated press
·2-min read
The fallout to the Lionel Messi (pictured right) drama continues after Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu (pictured left) resigned. (Getty Images)
The fallout to the Lionel Messi (pictured right) drama continues after Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu (pictured left) resigned. (Getty Images)

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu announced his resignation on Tuesday night to end a turbulent period around his reign.

"I am appearing before you to communicate my resignation and that of the rest of the board of directors," Bartomeu told a news conference.

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Bartomeu was vice-president in January 2014 when Sandro Rosell resigned and he replaced him as president.

He then won an election in 2015 after the team won the treble.

But that was the last time Barcelona achieved success in Europe and off the field the club has stumbled from one controversy to another.

He also appeared at odds with superstar Lionel Messi who had wanted to leave in August.

A recent vote of no-confidence had amassed over 20,000 signatures from club members and a referendum was due to take place at the start of November to oust the board.

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The club will now be run by a temporary board headed by Carles Tusquets.

He is obliged to call elections to vote in a new permanent president within the next three months.

Bartomeu's fate was perhaps determined since he was heavily criticised by Gerard Pique and then Messi, who was furious that a summer exit from the Catalan club was blocked.

Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (pictured left) celebrates with Barcelona's Spanish defender Gerard Pique (pictured right).
Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (pictured left) celebrates with Barcelona's Spanish defender Gerard Pique (pictured right). (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)

A short statement on Barcelona's Twitter account read: "President Josep Maria Bartomeu announces the resignation of the FC Barcelona Board of Directors."

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