Close to Jordi Pujol and Barça manager during the mandates of Rosell and Bartomeu, he resigned in 2017 due to the decision to play a match after the referendum on October 1
Sunday, December 28, 2025, 12:59
The versatile Catalan businessman and politician Carles Vilarrubí, vice president of Barcelona between 2010 and 2017 and a person very committed to Catalonia and the independence movement, died this morning at the age of 71, as confirmed by the Barça entity itself through a statement in which it shows its condolences to his family and friends.
“FC Barcelona, its president and the Board of Directors express their deepest condolences for the death of Carles Vilarrubí, institutional vice president of the club from July 1, 2010 to October 1, 2017,” reported the company chaired by Joan Laporta. «The club wants your support and love for family and friends. Rest in peace,” he added.
Vilarrubí was linked to Barça from a very young age as a roller hockey player, and defended the Blaugrana colors in the historic and award-winning section, created in 1872, after joining the team from Atlètic Terrassa Hockey Club. After four years, he had to hang up the stick due to a serious injury.
Key in the creation of Catalunya Radio
Once his sporting career was over, the man from Barcelona joined the world of business and also politics with Convergència i Unió. In fact, he participated as an important pillar in the creation of Catalunya Ràdio, of which he was general secretary and deputy director between 1983 and 1986, during Jordi Pujol’s time as president of the Generalitat.
He was also general director of the Autonomous Entity of Gaming and Betting of the Generalitat (EAJA) and advisor of the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals, as well as president of the business holding company CVC Grupo Consejeros, of the insurance brokerage Willis S&C and of the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy and Nutrition. He received the Cross of Sant Jordi, the highest decoration of Catalonia, in 2015.
He returned to Barça as a manager in 2010 on Sandro Rosell’s Board of Directors, and after his resignation he remained on the team of the next culé president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. He resigned from his position as head of the club’s International and Institutional Relations Area on October 1, 2017, thus showing his disagreement with the team playing its LaLiga match against UD Las Palmas after the incidents that occurred as a result of the referendum.
