Laporta to continue as Barca president

MADRID: Joan Laporta will continue as FC Barcelona president until at least 2010 after his rivals failed to mount an electoral challenge. Jaume Guixa and Jordi Medina withdrew after learning they hadn't received the requisite support of 1,804 club members, making the presidential election set for September 3 unnecessary. Laporta could be officially confirmed as president by the club's electoral committee on Tuesday, Barcelona said on its website.