BarcelonaBarça’s animation space is hanging by a thread. The club, tired of UEFA, the League and even the Generalitat having opened files for incidents or bad behavior during matches, has decided to put a thread on the needle. At the outset, it demands that the four groups that are part of it pay 21,000 euros, which is the total amount of the fines they received last season. And, from now on, he has already informed the groups that if any other file is opened, the space will be closed for a League match.
The decision has not taken the 560 users of the Montjuïc entertainment space by surprise. “We had already heard the bells,” one of them assures ARA. In fact, this medium already published a few weeks ago that the club, regarding what happened during the Champions League trips to Paris and Monaco, had detected an increase in violent or improper acts and was considering taking measures. Finally, Barça sources have confirmed them this Wednesday. “It’s a small declaration of war,” say those affected. Front 532, Supporters Barça, PB Nostra Ansenya and Penya Almogàvers are the four groups that are part of this space, which from now on will have 15 days to pay the fine. The price to be paid will be proportional to their presence in the stands.
In the week of Barça-Espanyol, the club made the decision and on Tuesday sent a letter to the groups explaining the situation. The letter referred to section 4.3 of the document that the groups and the club signed a year ago. “They agreed on rules for living together and they were already warned that if there were fines, they could be given the job.” Barça has already paid this money to the relevant institutions, but now wants to recover it.
For now, groups will only be asked to pay fines from last year. However, two cases have already been opened this season. One of them, in Monaco, which ended with a penalty of 10,000 euros and the ban on the fans of Culeres being able to occupy the space intended for the rival fans in the next trip to the Champions League – next week in Belgrade – . “When this season ends, depending on what has happened, we will decide how to proceed”, they add from the entity.
In the next file, the animation space will be closed for a match
On Sunday, in the derby, the animation space may be full as usual. But their members have already been warned that if a case is opened they will miss their next home game. “We will not wait for the resolution. If a file is opened, the space is closed,” they point out from the club. And if they relapse? “There will be another penalty game.” If the problems persist, Barça are prepared to extend the punishment. As a last resort, this space would be removed. “It is not our initial intention, because we do not want to go against the most loyal fans. But we have to understand that this cannot be. We want them to tone it down. We have received many warnings from UEFA. They must be aware that these attitudes harm the image of the club”, point out official sources from Barcelona.
Both at the end of last season and at the beginning of this one, on more than one occasion a message was played – over public address and on the Montjuïc video scoreboard – against violent or unsportsmanlike attitudes on the part of the stands. Two Sundays ago, there were arrests and season ticket withdrawals on the occasion of Barça-Sevilla for chants against Spain and Espanyol. As a sign of protest, in the Barça-Bayern Champions League, the cheering area did not enter the field until the 5th minute.
In parallel to all this, the rumor has started to spread around the entertainment area that Barça, in reality, wants to do away with this stand – with season tickets low cost– and sell tickets to the general public at market price. Asked about this point, Barça assured that if the groups are to be sanctioned, the space will be empty that day. “It’s a way to send a message”, justifies the club. On the other hand, the organization denies that it has decided to eliminate this space from the future Camp Nou: “It would be a mistake to do so”.
