Barcelona’s hopes of returning to Camp Nou this weekend have been dashed once again as the City Council refused to grant the licence needed to reopen the stadium. Hansi Flick’s side, amid ongoing renovations, were aiming to host Real Sociedad at a reduced capacity of 27,000 at Spotify Camp Nou, but security concerns have forced the club to look elsewhere.
Blaugrana blocked from home turf
President Joan Laporta and Institutional Vice-President Elena Fort had voiced optimism on Tuesday that approval would come through, but their expectations were left unmet. According to , the council cited safety measures as the primary reason for the denial.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesSafety first, council insists
Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet told local media that while the stadium’s renovation is near completion, officials cannot allow fans in without full compliance with safety standards.
"We are at the end of the first phase, which will culminate in the licensing process, but we need to ensure that all safety conditions are met,” Bonet said. "We share Barça’s desire for a successful and swift return. But this City Council must guarantee the safety of fans. This is our priority. We must ensure that the technicians can work rigorously.”
An unnamed council source further detailed the issues preventing the green light.
“We’re in the verification phase," the source said. "These are mainly deficiencies in the evacuation exits and the clearing of the camp. There’s a failure to comply with regulations. There are also accessibility issues that affect the safety of evacuation traffic: poor signage, handrails, poorly finished stairs. Vehicle accessibility… but there’s a lot of work done, and we don’t expect it to be a lengthy process. It’s not a huge amount, but we think we can resolve them quickly.”
Next stop: Montjuic
With Camp Nou off-limits, Barcelona confirmed their next fixtures will be staged at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys at Montjuïc. The Catalan giants will host Real Sociedad on Sunday night at the Montjuïc venue, with UEFA already confirming that the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain on 1 October will also take place there.
AFPCountdown to Camp Nou return
While the exact reopening date remains uncertain, both the club and council are eager for a resolution. Barcelona are determined to return to their historic home as soon as the final safety inspections are cleared, but until then, Montjuic will act as a stopgap for domestic and continental fixtures.
