29.08.2007 21:27
Overwhelming support for Club accounts
Anna Segura
The final accounts for 2006-07 and the budgets for the coming season have been overwhelmingly approved by the Club’s General Assembly.
Members’ representatives have voted by a large margin in favour of accepting last
season’s accounts and the budgets for the 2007-08 season.
Last season
Last season, FC Barcelona made a profit of 19.6 million euros, with an income of 290.1
million euros and expenditure of 270.6 million. This was the largest profit in recent years. The
Club also reduced bank debt to 39.8 million euros, paying back 28.7 million euros.
The accounts for 2006-07 were approved by 350 in favour, 2 against and 10 abstentions.
Sustained growth
FC Barcelona vice-president, Ferran Soriano, told those present: “There is sustained
growth with or without victories”. Although the football first team failed to lift any
important trophy last season, the finances of the Club had not suffered and had, indeed, grown.
Soriano explained: “Our economic model allows us to compete on a world scale while
maintaining the identity of the Club”.
A budget of 315 million euros
Ferran Soriano presented a budget of 315 million euros for this season; 24,9 million euros
more than last season. This includes a profit forecast of 15 million euros. This is one of the
highest budgets in the history of the Club. The increase of 25 million euros over last season is
due to the new contracts with Nike and Mediapro
The budget was approved by 293 in favour, 4 against and 4 abstentions.
Policy to continue
Ferran Soriano explained: “We want to continue with our management model. We have a
model that gives us profits every year”.
Economic Commission also approves accounts
Xavier Sala Martí, the president of the Economic Commission, which monitors the economic and
financial management of the Club, commented favourable on the accounts: “It’s a healthy
model. Money is made when titles are won but is not lost when they aren’t. It’s
important to have a healthy economy when you don’t win”.
Mr Xavier Sala Martí, speaking on behalf of the Economic Commission, called on the
members’ representatives to vote in favour of the budgets for 2007-08.