MADRID, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova had on Wednesday a relapse of his illness, a tumor on the parotid gland, according to sources from the Spanish public television, Radio Television Espanola.

FC Barcelona did not officially confirm the news but it is supposed to do it after players know this new situation through a meeting organized this afternoon just before the training.

This Wednesday, FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell was supposed to have a press conference and the traditional Christmas Lunch meeting with the media. However, it was canceled before 11:00 CET (09:00 GTM) without giving any reason.

Vilanova's relapse could be the reason and FC Barcelona said they would publish a new press release throughout the afternoon.

The 44-year-old coach had an emergency operation on November 22, 2011 in the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, where he was operated on by a maxillofacial surgery team.