The date was unanimously agreed at a board meeting today and will be confirmed when elections are called at the end of April.

Outgoing president Joan Laporta said the date had been chosen purely for "sporting reasons", with the last match that Barca could possibly be involved in being the Champions League final on May 22.

"This means that the electoral process will not interfere with the sporting interests of the club. We want to be with the team - sport is the basis of the club," said Laporta, who confirmed both coach Pep Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Begiristain had been consulted.

"Before anything was decided definitively, we talked with Pep and Txiki about what the board felt and they weighed up the pros and cons and told us the decision was fine with them," added Laporta.

Any member of the existing board who wish to become a presidential candidate must first resign from their position once the elections have been officially called, according to club statutes.

Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer, who are both currently vice-presidents, have already expressed an interest in running for the presidency.