The motion against Bartomeu has reached the required number of valid signatures

The mocion de censure vote has just reached the number of valid signatures needed (16,521) to carry out the process against President Josep Maria Bartomeu and his Board of Directors

The 57-year-old has been under immense pressure this summer following a trophyless season for the Catalan giants, and a very public falling-out with club talisman Lionel Messi.

And reports in Spain have confirmed that there has been more than enough backing to start the procedure, with 20,687 individuals seeking the vote. The threshold needed was only 16,250.

The club has now verified enough of those signatures to kick the process into gear.

Bartomeu's position is under intense scrutiny following a disastrous 12 months for the club.

On the pitch, the club threw away their lead at the top of La Liga and were smashed in the Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich to top a miserable season.

But it is matters off the pitch at which fans are eqaully as angry, with Messi attempting to force an exit from the club this summer, citing the leadership at the top of the club as a factor in his desire to leave.

The financial impact of Covid-19 has also brought matters off the pitch to the fore, with reports on Wednesday suggesting players have been asked to take a futher round of pay cuts after a loss of £88million was announced.

This comes after first-team players had already agreed to a 70 per cent wage reduction to help those in other roles at the club keep their jobs.