BARCELONA: Sandro Rosell has stated his intention to remain as president of Spanish league leaders Barcelona beyond the end of his current six-year term in 2016.

Rosell confirmed his intention to stand for re-election after helping to turn around the finances of the club by reducing debt and increasing revenues since succeeding Joan Laporta in 2010.

“My intention is to run for re-election and ask members to continue vesting their confidence in me so I can finish the jobs we have started,” he said, according to Reuters. “We want to continue to be the club that is a reference point for its play, its management, its values, because it is concerned about its country (Catalonia) and because it wants to help children and young people.”

Forbes stated earlier this week that Barcelona nearly doubled its value to $2.6bn n over the past year to remain third in the list of the most valuable football clubs in the world.

According to Forbes, Barcelona’s increase in valuation was the largest rise of any club in the top 20. Barcelona signed off on record profits of Eur48.8 million for the 2011-12 season.

July’s figures marked a significant achievement for the Primera Division giant, which had targeted a return to profit following losses of Eur9.3 million and Eur83 million in the previous two seasons. Barcelona’s total debt, which once stood at Eur420 million in 2010, was reduced to Eur335 million.

Rosell added: “This year we are on the right track but our goal remains to reduce debt. The objective is to reach the end of the mandate (in 2016) with a debt of around Eur200 million, a sustainable level. We need to continue making certain sacrifices and have strong and solvent sponsors. Without doubt our deal with Qatar Sports Investments has been crucial in the improvement in the economic situation.”

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Friday, April 19, 2013 Rosell to stand for re-election as Barcelona president  FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has stated his intention to remain at the helm of the Primera Division giant beyond the end of his current six-year term in 2016.   Rosell assumed the presidency of Barcelona in 2010, succeeding Joan Laporta…. read more Government to push through Spanish football’s switch to collective rights model Spain’s Secretary of State for Sport, Miguel Cardenal, has announced a new law will be introduced that will obligate clubs to switch to a collective model for the sale of broadcast rights…. read more Soccerex chief reflects on successful European Forum Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie has hailed this year’s edition of the European Forum, stating the event in Manchester “surpassed all expectations”…. read more FIFA requirements preventing implementation of GLT in Bundesliga FIFA requirements, rather than concerns over the effectiveness of goal-line technology (GLT), are the reason why the Bundesliga is delaying the introduction of such systems, according to a senior official from the German Football League (DFL)…. read more Libyan government planning major stadium investment in 2013 Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Awad Ibrahim Elbarasi has said the country plans to invest 400 million dinars (US$314 million) this year on developing stadiums for its staging of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations…. read more Prefer your news online? Stopped receiving your usual copy? Click here! Time for clubs to think smart Navin Kekane, director of international operations at secondary ticketing company StubHub, explains the huge opportunity for smartphones to revolutionise the matchday experience…. Smartphone penetration with sports fans is increasing exponentially. However, to date, the industry has done a poor job keeping pace with changes in fan behaviour and the gap is widening. Left unchecked, this has serious implications on fan loyalty and, ultimately, revenue…. read more
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