[SPAIN] Barcelona president Joan Laporta lost a confidence vote but survived his post and vowed see out his term through 2010. During his tenure, Barcelona signed a five-year commercial agreement with MLS that includes its two-game U.S. tour this summer.
Oriol Giralt‘s motion against Laporta fell slightly short of winning the 66 percent of votes needed to force the board out.
"The motion hasn’t succeeded," Laporta said. "We understand this is a punishment for the last two years and will work to correct things and to restore the institutional stability needed at this club."
Laporta was in charge when Barcelona won La Liga titles in 2005 and 2006 and as it lifted the 2006 UEFA Champions League crown.
But the Barcelona lost its La Liga crown to Real Madrid in the last two seasons.
Laporta recently replaced Coach Frank Rijkaard with former captain and fan favorite Pep Guardiola.