In a video response to a question by this blog through microblogging service Twitter about his supposed plan to limit the number of club members (read more here), Barcelona presidential candidate Agustà Benedito has confirmed that he doesn't exclude a limitation and that he wants to introduce the new concept of associate:
"I think that we should define the final model we want for our supporters. In the end, we haven chosen for the new concept of the 'associate', which would be the Barcelona fan who feels the need to be part of the club and who could get benefits and would be rewarded for his efforts and his condition of member of FC Barcelona. This wouldn't exactly be the same of the concept of 'club member' as we know it.
I think we all should try to find an agreement and ask ourselves if we want a model of an unlimited growth of the number of club members, which could lead to having 100.000, 200.000, 300.000 or 500.000 club members, or if we need to introduce other concepts, like the one proposed by us: the concept of associate, where one could really feel a member of the Barcelona community and family.
In any case, we should decide this all together. A lot of club members are worried because the initial model of unlimited growth of club members could lead to an internal conflict and I think it would be good to analyze everything in a calm way and with consensus and make a final decision: do we introduce the concept of the associate or do we maintain the model of the club members without limitations?"
Read more:
Benedito: "Our secret weapon are the people"
Guixa and Benedito want members to ratify Cruyff
Benedito introduces campaign fundraising
