Barça on the Verge of Abandoning Planned Homecoming at Camp Nou
FC Barcelona is facing challenges in its planned return to the Spotify Camp Nou, with reports suggesting that the club might not be able to pull off the return due to lacking the right licenses and permits from Barcelona city council.
The Catalan giants are aiming to get Camp Nou ready for Hansi Flick's men's first La Liga home match on September 14 against Valencia. However, the club initially announced a planned return to the Spotify Camp Nou on August 10, which now seems uncertain.
The return to the Spotify Camp Nou represents a historic milestone for FC Barcelona and its fans, marking the end of playing away from home at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium for two seasons. However, the uncompleted construction and documentation issues have cast a shadow over the much-anticipated event.
The Camp Nou renovation is still underway, and significant work remains, particularly in the stadium's seating areas. The club initially aimed for a reduced capacity of 60,000 fans but later shifted to a more modest target of 30,000 due to the outstanding construction work. However, even this reduced capacity seems optimistic given the current state of the stadium.
Barcelona has not submitted the required documentation to the city council, which is necessary for obtaining the licenses needed to host games at the renovated stadium. The club requires two licenses: one for construction and another for occupancy. While the city council has approved the first license, the second occupancy permit is still pending.
The city council will only grant licenses if the club demonstrates that the necessary areas of the stadium are completed to a satisfactory standard. This includes ensuring that the lower stand and middle stand are finished, while the third ring and covering are still to be built.
Due to these delays, Barcelona is exploring alternative venues for the Joan Gamper Trophy match, with the Estadi Johan Cruyff being a likely option. This smaller stadium can accommodate only 6,000 fans, significantly fewer than the hoped-for crowd at Camp Nou.
President Joan Laporta's decision to announce a return without the proper licenses and permissions in place is questionable. A final decision on the matter will be made on Friday, and it's expected that the Gamper will not be played at the Camp Nou.
This news comes as a blow to FC Barcelona fans who have been eagerly awaiting the return to their beloved stadium. The club will now have to focus on ensuring that the Camp Nou is ready for more critical matches, such as their first La Liga home game in September and the Champions League games that follow.
[1] Source: Mundo Deportivo [2] Source: Marca [3] Source: AS [4] Source: El Pais
FC Barcelona's planned return to the Spotify Camp Nou for the first La Liga home match against Valencia on September 14, as part of Hansi Flick's debut, is under threat due to insufficient licenses and permits. The Catalan giants are still dealing with construction and documentation issues, which have prompted speculation about alternative venues such as the Estadi Johan Cruyff for crucial matches like El Clásico and the Champions League. These sports events, including football games in La Liga, could potentially take place without the historic return to the Spotify Camp Nou.
