Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, will not travel to the club's training camp in Birmingham after being treated in hospital in Barcelona for a heart arrhythmia, the club has confirmed through Spanish reports.
Medical episode leads to temporary pause in duties
According to reporting by El Periódico Mediterráneo, Laporta has recovered from the cardiac event but is resting and has suspended his duties for several days. His most recent public engagement was last Saturday when he met new signing Karim Adeyemi and welcomed Caroline Graham Hansen to sign a contract extension.
For Wednesday's board meeting, Laporta will delegate responsibilities to vice-president Rafa Yuste, who previously served as acting president following the election victory until 1 July. One item expected at that meeting is setting the date for the club's Assembly of Delegates, typically held in October, which carries significant governance weight this year.
- Laporta hospitalised in Barcelona with an arrhythmia but has recovered and is resting.
- He will not travel to the Birmingham training camp; Rafa Yuste will chair an upcoming board meeting.
- Key decisions on the Assembly of Delegates and Espai Barça financing remain on the agenda.
Local impact and what Birmingham can expect
Barcelona's training camps attract attention locally, bringing players, staff and media to the city. While the president's absence will not affect the team being present in Birmingham, it removes a high-profile figure from events where fans and local officials sometimes expect appearances.
The club faces several internal decisions in the coming days, including ratifying directors who remained during the recent electoral process and consideration of a request related to additional financing for the Espai Barça project — a proposal reported to increase funding by at least €400 million as part of an arrangement valued at €1.45 billion with Goldman Sachs. Delegates must approve that request.
He has thanked the medical teams involved in his care, including staff at the Hospital de Barcelona and several named medical advisers.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Medical issue | Heart arrhythmia; treated in Barcelona hospital |
| Temporary leadership | Rafa Yuste to take on duties for upcoming board meeting |
For Birmingham residents and matchgoers, the immediate implication is limited: training sessions and football-related activity are expected to proceed as planned, but appearances by the club president will not form part of the programme while he recuperates. The episode underlines how health matters can influence the public-facing aspects of major clubs during tours and camps abroad.
