The vice president of the FC Barcelona Supporters Club, highlighted how, for the first time, the club and its supporters clubs have unanimously agreed to lay the bases for the Penyes Segle XXI project, with a series of regulations and methods to decide how the supporters clubs movement is to work from now on. In that regard, it should be stated that in the first part of the Congress, the votes on the regulations for supporters clubs, celebrations, events and protocol, the identity of supporters clubs and organisation were all passed unanimously.

“Taking decisions by majority vote is democratic, but such unanimity shows that you are a movement, a homogenous group, which is a basic principle behind being strong and taking actions, that you have made some important decisions by working together. This is a clear demonstration that the supporters club movement is close to the club”, said Cardoner.

Bilateral agreement

For Cardoner, the success is the result of this Congress serving to show that the supporters clubs movement, when it participates, works as one. That is the most important conclusion of this Congress, in which both parties have made a bilateral agreement to promote the Penyes Segle XXI project.

On the same issue, Cardoner spoke of the importance of “rejuvenating and modernising the movement. There is a long way to go. There has been a delay in recent years. The club and the supporters clubs have not evolved in the same way.” He also voiced the need for the supporters clubs “to actively participate in the Foundation’s activities.” Another of the basic needs, he feels, is “to sense that the club is close”. Initiatives like this year’s Festa Barça show “we can meet to build Barça outside of football”.

Orderly growth

Cardoner said that one area of concern is the “increasing number of supporters clubs outside of the country. We have to be able to organise this growth. We have to grow, but we have to control the Barça image. That is one of the most important assignments for the future. We want to grow, but in an orderly and coherent fashion.”

As for the core issues regarding the Supporters Clubs Area, and turning fully to the Penyes Segle XXI project, he spoke about the new supporters clubs services offices, analysed the supporters clubs movement and also spoke of the creation of what he considers the “indispensable” figure of the Supporters Clubs Ombudsman.

Review of Social Area

Jordi Cardoner also discussed the main points of a review of the club’s social area. These actions had already been announced at a press conference in July .