In a strategic move aimed at strengthening administrative stability at the Catalan club, Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, ​​the leaders of the Spanish football league, has officially resigned from his position. This decision is a necessary procedural step to enable him to run for another presidential term in the elections scheduled for March 15, as announced by the club in an official statement on Monday.

Details of the transitional phase

According to the club's bylaws, Rafael Giusti, the current first vice-president, will assume the duties of acting president during the transitional period. Giusti's interim term will last until June 30, the date set for the official start of the term of the president who wins the upcoming election, thus ensuring the uninterrupted continuation of the club's administrative and sporting operations.

Laporta: A history of achievements and challenges

Joan Laporta (63 years old) is a pivotal figure in the modern history of Barcelona. He led the club during its first golden era between 2003 and 2010, a period that saw Barcelona dominate European and domestic football and achieve the historic sextuple. Laporta returned to lead the club again in 2021 at a time when it was facing a severe financial and administrative crisis, and in the years since, he has worked to implement economic measures to restore balance to the club's budget.

The electoral landscape and expected competition

Catalan media reports indicate that Laporta is entering the presidential race as the frontrunner, bolstered by the improved performance of the first team, which currently leads La Liga. However, the path will not be without competition, with Victor Font emerging as a strong potential rival. Font, who finished second in the 2021 election, presents himself as an alternative with a different economic and administrative vision for the club's future.

The importance of the elections for the future of Barcelona

These elections are of paramount importance not only locally but also globally, given Barcelona's status as one of the world's biggest clubs. The elections come at a sensitive time, coinciding with the redevelopment project at the Camp Nou and ongoing efforts to strengthen the squad to compete strongly in the Champions League. Laporta, through his renewed term, seeks to complete his sporting and economic project to ensure the club's sustainability for years to come.

Saudi Aramco officially launched its campaign in the Jeddah 2026 Championship, a prominent sporting event reflecting the giant company's commitment to supporting the sports sector in Saudi Arabia. This participation underscores Aramco's pivotal role not only as a global economic powerhouse but also as a strategic partner in achieving the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on quality of life and sporting excellence.

A long history of sports support

Aramco’s participation in the Jeddah 2026 tournament is not an isolated event, but rather an extension of its long history of investments and initiatives in sports. The company has consistently sponsored and supported major events, from its global partnership with FIFA to its sponsorship of Formula 1 races and international women’s golf tournaments. This long history underscores the importance of its presence at the Jeddah tournament, where it will share its organizational and administrative expertise to elevate the level of competition and draw global attention to Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in organizing major events.

Jeddah: The capital of sports and tourism

The selection of Jeddah to host this championship reinforces its position as a leading sports and tourism destination on the Red Sea coast. Jeddah boasts state-of-the-art sports infrastructure, including King Abdullah Sports City (The Shining Jewel) and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, making it perfectly suited to host events of the scale of the Jeddah 2026 Championship. These events contribute to boosting tourism and the economy in the city, creating investment opportunities and new jobs for Saudi youth, which aligns with the region's development plans.

Strategic dimensions and impact of Vision 2030

This step falls under the umbrella of the Quality of Life Program, one of the most important programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a global sports destination and encourage the community to participate in sports. The involvement of major companies like Aramco in local and international tournaments held in the Kingdom sends a strong message to the international community about Saudi Arabia's commitment to developing its sports sector and diversifying its sources of income away from oil, through investment in soft power and entertainment.

Expected impact locally and regionally

Aramco's participation in the Jeddah 2026 Championship is expected to raise the level of competition and attract more sponsors and commercial partners to the event. This presence will also boost the morale of the participating athletes and place the championship on the map of important regional events. The successful organization and management of this participation will resonate widely within Gulf and Arab sporting circles, reaffirming the Kingdom's leading role in the region's sporting landscape.

The goalless draw between Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal and their Emirati counterparts, Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai, in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League, raised many questions about some of the refereeing decisions that took place in the match, specifically the incident in which Brazilian star Malcom Felipe demanded a penalty kick in his favor.

In this context, Jordanian refereeing expert Ahmed Abu Khadija settled the controversy surrounding the incident, confirming in an exclusive statement to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi that the referee's decision to allow play to continue was correct. Abu Khadija explained that the contact between Malcom and the Shabab Al-Ahli defender fell under the category of "natural competition" for the ball, noting that the referee was very successful in assessing the situation by not awarding a penalty to Al-Hilal, despite the repeated protests from Al-Hilal players.

The match witnessed noticeable tension and objections from Al-Hilal players who demanded that the referee return to the video technology and award the penalty, but the referee’s whistle was the deciding factor in continuing the game, and the match ended in a goalless draw (0-0) between the two big teams.

The context of the competition and the importance of the continental championship

This match is part of the new and improved format of the continental championship, now called the "AFC Champions League," which features fierce competition among the strongest clubs in Asia. Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal is considered one of the perennial favorites for the title, given its illustrious history and dominance of Asian championships in recent years, making any slip-up or controversial refereeing decision a focus of intense media and fan attention.

Matches between Saudi Arabia and the UAE are always characterized by their competitiveness and excitement, reflecting the development of Gulf football and the strength of its clubs, which have become formidable forces in continental competitions. The organized defensive performance of Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in this match demonstrates the tactical advancements achieved by Emirati clubs in countering the formidable attacking prowess of Saudi Arabian clubs.

The impact of the result on the teams' trajectory

Despite the goalless draw, the point earned by each team is significant in the long group stage campaign, especially given the tournament's new format which requires accumulating as many points as possible to secure a high ranking and advance to the knockout rounds. Experts emphasize that such refereeing decisions, whether correct or controversial, remain an integral part of the excitement and drama of football, particularly in major tournaments where there is no room for error in the decisive stages.