Barcelona fail to reach deal with Qatar Airways over shirt sponsorship

Barcelona and Qatar Airways have not reached an agreement over the continued sponsorship of the club's first-team shirt, despite the intense negotiations conducted by Josep Maria Bartomeu with the Qatari government. 

There is interest on both sides to renew a deal which has been in force since 2010 and expires in June 2016, although can be extended by one month. Nike, which makes the shirts, requires at least six months to make the kits for next season. 

The board held an extraordinary meeting at the club offices and decided to postpone the decision over the sponsor in order to get the best deal possible.

They want to match the €70m which Manchester United charge for their shirt, the best paid team in the world. 

The board published the following statement: 

"The Board was sitting at an extraordinary meeting held today in the Club offices, where it reached the following agreements:

"To postpone the decision regarding a new main shirt sponsor, which was initially to be made at the General Assembly this Sunday 25 October.

"To issue a new deadline in order to reach the best possible sponsorship agreement, given that this contract would not come into force until 2016/17. The Board’s intent has always been to present the members with an agreement that matches the high value of the assets that it offers.

"To call an Extraordinary Assembly of Delegate Members as soon as there is a definitive proposal to present."