Fútbol Club Barcelona will have to continue playing away from Les Corts. Although the works of the Spotify Camp Nou are in their final phase, the Barcelona City Council has not yet granted the first occupancy license, after detecting several deficiencies in terms of security.
"The FC Barcelona vs Real Sociedad match will be played at the Lluís Companys Stadium"
The municipal technicians, together with Firefighters and Guardia Urbana, have pointed out the need to make corrections before authorizing the partial return of fans to the blaugrana stadium.
This decision frustrates the wishes recently expressed by Joan Laporta, president of the club, who hoped to be able to reopen the doors of the coliseum this week in the match against Real Sociedad.
Deficiencies detected in the new Camp Nou
The council has identified security deficiencies that must be corrected. These include:
- Too narrow evacuation routes.
- Problems in the circulation of emergency vehicles.
- Poorly finished stairs.
- Deficiencies in emergency signage.
- Railings without the regulatory height.
Until these adaptation works are completed and verified, the Camp Nou will not receive the green light to reopen with 27,000 spectators in the so-called phase 1A of the remodeling project.
The position of the City Council
The first deputy mayor, Laia Bonet, has stressed that the safety of the fans is the absolute priority: “We will not grant the license until all the guarantees are met. When we have them, we will not take a minute longer to give the authorization.”
From the consistory they remark that there is full collaboration with the club, but they insist on the need for the technicians to be able to work with the rigor and legality that corresponds.
Montjuïc, confirmed venue against Real Sociedad and PSG
Given the impossibility of reopening the Camp Nou, the Barça-Real Sociedad will be played at the Lluís Companys Stadium, where grass replanting work is being carried out after the last concerts.
The vice president of the institutional area, Elena Fort, has explained that the preference in the purchase of tickets will correspond to the 25,533 members who acquired the Montjuïc pass in either of the two previous seasons. The application period will open on September 24 at 11:00 a.m. and end on the 25th at the same time, with prices ranging between 11 and 37 euros.
The Olympic mountain will also be the scene of the Barça-PSG Champions League match scheduled for October 1. The club is confident that, if the works progress as planned, the return to the Camp Nou could materialize on October 18 against Girona in LaLiga.
The decision of the City Council is a temporary setback, but the club is optimistic about the imminent reopening. Meanwhile, Montjuïc will continue to be the provisional home of the culé team in the upcoming commitments.
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