The practically 1,200 Catalan soccer and futsal clubs will have to choose their new president this Sunday for the next four years. A position as greedy (due to the resources available) as loaded with responsibility, as this community is the engine of Spanish football in terms of the contribution of footballers to the First Division and to the rest of the lower categories of the National Team. His work, moreover, is essential in the formative fabric of boys and girls. Even before the pre-campaign, dirty play is part of a process that is not very democratic due to its practices.
The favourite, taking the number of endorsements as a reference, is Joan Soteras (763). The outgoing president, who replaced Andreu Subíes in office, and presented himself as the candidate of “transparency” taking the model of England or the Nordic countries. The truth is that in his mandate there have been multiple cases of complaints, inherited with the outgoing board of Andreu Subíes. Family messes that have broken into the federation. Soteras, like his predecessor, are salaried presidents. The only ones in the history of this association.
Behind Soteras is Talavera (594), who puts the clubs at the center of his candidacy. Former president of the EU Cornellà, this engineer leads a group made up of people closely linked to Catalan football, although he has also been accused of having part of the Subíes team, the previous president. Be that as it may, Talavera arrives with the promise of not being a paid president and of lowering the tax burden on the clubs.
Also linked to the first stage of Subíes, although unmarked in recent years from his management model, Juanjo Isern (583) presents himself as the experienced candidate for change. Also former president of CE Europe, he is a successful businessman, has formed a very transversal team, has sponsors and intends to get the federation out of court. The group of candidates is completed by Pep Palacios, with 202 endorsements.
During these last weeks, and after the candidates toured Catalonia in search of support. The war with whatsaap messages, with promises such as free balls, discounts on next year’s arbitration fees or federative fees are the order of the day. This Sunday will leave doubts. Four candidates aspire to one of the most greedy positions in sports federations.