Reason why Barcelona were denied licence to return to Camp Nou for Real Sociedad game | OneFootball

In a major update, Barcelona have confirmed that they will play against Real Sociedad at Montjuic, which comes as a disappointment for many who were hoping to see the game at Camp Nou.

The club were hoping to play the Sociedad game at Camp Nou but couldn’t iron out the final details with the City Council, which has yet to give them the clearance.

Following a meeting today, the City Council did not grant the licence required to reopen the stadium, citing some concerns with regard to fire safety measures.

Barcelona City Council on Camp Nou return

The Barcelona Municipality has recently addressed some of the ongoing problems with the Camp Nou to SPORT, confirming that Barcelona are indeed yet to meet some of the regulations.

“We are in the review phase. Most issues are related to deficiencies in evacuation exits and stadium clearance,” the body said.

“There is a violation of regulations. Also, elements related to accessibility affect movement safety during evacuation: poor signage, barriers, and poorly completed stairs. Additionally, issues concerning vehicle access,” they added.

When will Barcelona return to Camp Nou? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

However, the City Council confirmed that a lot of the work has been done already, and the works that are left are minuscule in comparison.

“However, significant work has been accomplished, and we do not expect the process to be too lengthy. The number of deficiencies is not large, but we believe they can be resolved quickly,” the City Council said.

The body also explained how the approval process goes through several departments, so it is natural that the permit takes time.

“This verification process involves several parties: certification companies, environmental oversight bodies, and the actual executor of the works,” they said.

Finally, the Barcelona City Council confirmed that while some works are still left, Barcelona are in the final stages of completing the project and eventually attaining the permit.

“These three criteria must be met. As of today, regarding the field review, there are adjustments needed.

“There are deficiencies that must be corrected, some of which relate to safety, where we cannot afford to make mistakes. There is progress, but some adjustments are still needed. We are in the final stage,” they concluded.