Joan Laporta, president of the Barcelona Football Club, claimed that football institutions cannot be measured solely by business criteria, but also by sporting, social and institutional issues. Likewise, he emphasized the growing relevance of sport on the international stage. “Perhaps today football has become a transversal phenomenon that helps,” he noted. In his speech, the sports leader recalled the club’s collaboration with Unicef, to build bridges of understanding between people and cultures, hailing this alliance as “perhaps the club’s most important non-sporting decision.” Subsequently, he assured that the entity maintains a commitment to democracy, tolerance and human rights, something that, according to him, fans around the world appreciate. “We leaders have the obligation to manage and direct the social responsibility of the clubs in the ways that we consider fair and appropriate, with the aim of making our fans feel satisfied,” stated the leader. After being questioned about the influence of the large Gulf investment funds in sport, Laporta ruled out that their impact was negative and rejected that petrodollars have changed the football context. Along these lines, he considered that, in his opinion, these countries were using sport as a way to get closer to the rest of the world. “We have observed that these countries have linked themselves to football in a decisive and interesting way,” he explained. «As president of Barça, it is not correct for me to speak on behalf of other societies and countries. Barcelona is present all over the world, on the five continents, and we feel loved and respected,» declared Laporta. On the other hand, the Barça leader stated that he is delighted by the development that football is experiencing in the United States and, in particular, his own club. Likewise, he valued the role that the relationship between the president of FIFA and the president of the United States is playing in the peace negotiations in Gaza. «It is the power of football, the integrating force it has. I know that there is a friendship between Trump and Infantino. I was surprised to see it, but I know that the intention is to help and build bridges of understanding.»Finally, Laporta avoided delving into political issues linked to Russia, Israel or Palestine. “Peace, dialogue and coexistence” were the only words he used to refer to his club’s position in these situations. However, he expressed solidarity with the citizens of Congo and all African countries, where his club currently has about 15 projects. «I understand that the problem they have had with Rwanda is in the process of being resolved and that is what we want. Barça is in the hearts of Africans.»