Barça’s problems are of their own wrongdoings.

Barça’s image suffered another black eye when FIFA issued their transfer ban this week. Barça’s failure to properly handle this matter is just another example of how inept this board has been over the years. This board specializes in playing the victim part so often which is rather embarrassing since it was everything that Pep Guardiola tried to rid us from. Now, Barça board, players and their fans are being embarrassed because of the board’s failure to conduct their business in a competent manner. Ultimately, the blame falls squarely on Barça’s shoulders and not the black hands of others.

FIFA’s announcement this week that Barça were going to be punished for signing young players was one of the lowest days for this Barça fan. On one hand, it is rather ironic that FIFA has a problem with Barça having kids from Asia and Africa staying with the club and learning the game from them. How is that a negative is beyond me especially when they seem turn a blind eye to the deaths of men who are dying at construction sites in Brazil and Qatar for their precious World Cup. I am sure those who have perished are also fathers to kids from Asian and Africa too. But then again, this is FIFA we are talking about.

Yet, my outrage was with the club for allowing this sort of problem to happen in the first place. Likewise, I was not surprised that the club was in trouble yet again. Each passing day that this board remains in charge is a recipe for disaster. This club inherited a successful club and somehow managed to sully its reputation by being so incompetent in how they handle their affairs.

Barça’s official website released a statement indicating the history of their correspondence with FIFA over this matter. That statement indicated that they always replied to FIFA’s inquires so they did nothing wrong. What bothers me is that this board never bothered to check with FIFA and see if the case was closed or if additional information was needed. Nope, they just went about their business and never made sure that the matter had been resolved.

This is another fine example of the board dropping the ball. They dropped the ball with the treatment of Thiago and Abidal. They dropped the ball in failing to re-enforce the team with more players and stood by while players were hurt. Instead of making transfer window signings, they told us that players returning from injuries would be our new signings. Well, Puyol and Afellay are back; how often have you seen them play?

It’s no secret that I was never a fan of this board and they have yet to win me over. The appointment of Zubizarreta as sporting director was something I never warmed up to. As one of my friends recently said about Zubi, he did poorly in the same position with Athletic Bilbao which meant he had fewer players to scout because of their Basque only policy. Hence, was he the right man for the job or the best suited man for the job because of his ties to the Blaugrana thanks to his playing days?

There is a minority, but a strong vocal minority, that just does not trust this board whatsoever. I am part of that minority who has trust issues with this board. They have never been straight forward about the club’s finances, the Qatar deal, Abidal, and Neymar’s transfer. One of the promises of the former president, Sandro Rosell, was that this club would be more transparent when he assumed the presidency. Yet, everything seems to be murky and not crystal clear. Even the recent proposal that was voted by the club members pertaining to the renovations of the Camp Nou was lacking sufficient details.

Therein lies the problem. I previously mentioned there is a minority of the fans, not the majority of the fans, who do not trust this board. All the problems that the club is currently dealing with are problems of their own manifestation. Their incompetence, not the black hands of others, is the cause of their problems and it’s fair to say the members are to blame for voting for Sandro Rosell and his men. If I were a soccer betting man, here would be my predictions. With the recent Camp Nou referendum being passed thanks to the votes of the members, don’t expect any summer elections anytime soon. Instead, I would expect two more years of futility during the prime of such players such as Messi and Iniesta. Ultimately, Barça’s problems are of their own wrongdoings and one hopes they can someday get their act together for once.