Key Barcelona meeting helped settle three big issues at the club
The date for the new election, the voting process and the signing of Eric Garcia were on the table
The three remaining candidates to be the next Barcelona president -- Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa -- met with acting president Carles Tusquets on Friday at Camp Nou.
The meeting was mainly to deal with three main issues: 1) to decide a date for the election to be held; 2) to discuss how members can vote; and 3) to talk about whether or not to sign Eric Garcia in January.
1. March 7 has been chosen as the date to hold the election to choose a new Barça president. Barça met with the government on Friday morning and it was agreed the original date of Jan. 24 was not possible due to the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic in the region. Therefore, Laporta, Font and Freixa had to agree a new date with Tusquets.
Feb. 28 has been put forward but it was decided it would be best to wait an extra week because the government predict the curve will have fallen even more by then and the health conditions will be much better.
2. There will be postal voting allowed in the election. The government have given Tusquets their word that they will update the legislation to allow for postal voting. That was another reason for March 7 over Feb. 28 -- it allows more time to get the system in place. This will mean voting members won't be forced to travel to vote if they want to/can avoid it.
3. 'No' to Manchester City defender Eric Garcia. The three candidates all agreed not to pay a fee for the centre-back this month due to the club's delicate financial situation. The incoming president and his board, therefore, will have to decide if they sign the former Barça youngster on a free in the summer when his contract with City expires.
