Sara

 When people think about football club presidents, they often imagine discreet administrators operating within stable systems of governance. However, Joan Laporta has redefined this model through a leadership style that combines charisma, rhetoric, and controversy. His charismatic personality and assertive rhetoric have made him one of the most recognisable and debated figures in modern sport, while also raising questions about legitimacy and accountability.

Born in Barcelona in 1962, Laporta began his career as a lawyer before entering business and politics. Over time, he became closely associated with FC Barcelona, not only as a president but also as a symbol of national identity and political expression. His leadership reflects a broader ideological divide within Spain, particularly regarding the question of Catalan sovereignty and independence.

Laporta first rose to prominence in 2003 during a period of institutional crisis and financial instability. At the time, weak governance and elements of fiscal mismanagement had created instability. Through a pragmatic approach, he restored stability and reinforced the club’s legitimacy. By appointing Frank Rijkaard and later Pep Guardiola, he helped build a dominant team, with Lionel Messi becoming a global icon.

Despite these achievements, Laporta’s leadership has remained controversial and polarising. His style is often associated with populism, as he appeals directly to supporters’ emotions. This has increased polarisation, creating both strong support and strong opposition. His actions have also been criticised in terms of accountability and transparency.

After leaving the presidency, Laporta became involved in politics, reinforcing the political instrumentalisation of football. His support for Catalan independence intensified tensions between Catalonia and Spain, reflecting a wider conflict over sovereignty and national identity.

When he returned in 2021, the club faced another institutional crisis caused by structural limitations and fiscal mismanagement. The departure of Lionel Messi highlighted financial instability and raised questions about leadership accountability. Laporta responded with “economic levers,” a pragmatic but risky strategy that prioritised short-term recovery over long-term sustainability.

While some view his leadership as necessary and effective, others argue it creates long-term instability. This debate reflects broader ideological divisions and competing views about governance, responsibility, and leadership in modern football.

Ultimately, Laporta represents a form of leadership defined by charisma, controversy, and political influence. His presidency highlights key issues such as accountability, legitimacy, and sustainability, while also reflecting the ongoing tensions between Catalan identity and the Spanish state.

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1 – Vocabulary Match  

Part 1 – 

No.	Word	Definition
1	Governance	F.  Wide
2	Rhetoric	H. Appealing to people’s emotions rather than reason
3	Broad	D. Strategic use of language to persuade
4	Populism	B. Obligation to explain and justify actions
5	Legitimacy	G. Focus on practical results
6	Pragmatism	C. System of management and control
7	Polarisation	E. Authority accepted as valid
8	Accountability	A. Division into opposing groups

Part 2 –  

No. | Word | Definition 1 | Regulation | C. Money owed 2 | National identity | H. Openness and clarity in decisions 3 | Debt | B. Possibility of negative outcomes 4 | Legitimacy | A. Right to self-govern 5 | Transparency | D. Shared sense of belonging 6 | Sovereignty | F. Situation of political disagreement 7 | Ideological divide | E. Rules set by authorities 8 | Risk | G. Accepted authority

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2 – Synonym Match  

No.	Word	Synonym
1	Rhetoric	B. Division
2	Governance	F. Turmoil
3	Pragmatism	G. Validity
4	Authority	H. Management
5	Instability	I.  Wide
6	Polarisation	C. Responsibility
7	Accountability	J. Power
8	Legitimacy	D. Uncertainty
9	Broad	E. Persuasive language
10	Crisis	A. Practical approach

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3 – Understanding Leadership & Controversy

Discuss:

• Why is Joan Laporta considered a controversial leader?

• How does charisma influence leadership legitimacy?

• Is populism an effective leadership strategy?

• To what extent is financial risk justified in times of crisis?

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4 – FC Barcelona, Politics & Identity

Discuss:

• Why is FC Barcelona seen as more than a football club?

• How does Catalan identity influence the club’s image?

• Should football institutions take political positions?

• How do tensions between Catalonia and Spain affect leadership decisions?

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5– Formal Debate

Motion:
“Charismatic and controversial leaders are more effective than traditional leaders.”

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6 – Role Play – Crisis Press Conference

Roles:

• Joan Laporta

• Journalists

Focus:

• Financial crisis

• Messi’s departure

• Political positioning

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7 – Simulation – Political & Financial Crisis

Scenario:
FC Barcelona faces financial collapse and political pressure.

Roles:

• Club president

• Spanish government official

• Catalan political figure

• Financial advisor

• Fan representative

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8 – Top 10 Things That Define Being Catalan

Discuss each one on this list and then rank which one is the most hat defines what it is to be Catalan

1. Catalan language  
2. The Senyera  
3. Castells  
4. La Diada  
5. Pa amb tomàquet  
6. FC Barcelona  
7. Sardana 
8. Caganer 
9. Calçots and calçotades  
10. Modernist architecture  

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9.Fill in the blanks: 

1. If this is his Laporta´s  4th time as president , then this is his 4th __________ as president.

2. If one day he decides to stop being the president,  then he ______   ____.

3.  If he won the elections by a lot of points , then it was a _________victory.

     But if he won by a very small difference, then it was a  ________ victory. 

4. If he broke the law but only received a small punishment for a crime that deserves a much bigger punishment, then he got a __________.

5.  Barça fans are                     Culers.

6. If  he broke the law but instead of going to jail he offered the police money, then he _______ them.

7. He won the elections twice in a row, or two times consecutively. We can also say he won the elections __________.

8. The news that he won received a lot of exposure in the media. It                                             .

9. Josep Maria Bartomeu is the________ president of Barca and Laporta is the _______ president.

10. If you have never been to a Barca match and it is something you would love to do one day, it is on your                                   .

11. The average price for a Barca ticket is between 90 to 150 Euros.  However, for an ¨el classico¨ match, it will cost                                    .

12. If you paid a lot of money for a Barca ticket, but the experience was not worth it, then the experience of going to a Barca match was                                 .

13. If you have a friend who would do anything in order to go to a Barca match, then you could say: ¨He would sell his left   __________   to go to a Barca match.

14. If you were able to get a ticket for a Barca game for a very good price, then it was a  ________.

15. The reason for the good price was because you are seated very high and very far from the action. Those  seats are called _________ seats.