⚠️ City council blocks Barça return to Camp Nou over safety concerns | OneFootball

The Barcelona City Council has not granted the First Occupancy License necessary for Barça to resume playing games at Camp Nou, according to information from Sport.

The Catalan newspaper confirmed with municipal sources on Tuesday (23) that stated it is still necessary to ensure "all safety conditions."

The decision contradicts Barça's institutional vice-president, Elena Fort, who had described Spotify Camp Nou as "the safest stadium in the world" earlier that morning.

Despite the differing versions, the consortium emphasized that collaboration with the club remains active.

"We share Barça's desire for the return to be a success and to happen as soon as possible," said the first deputy mayor, Laia Bonet, in an interview covered by Sport.

"But the City's priority is the safety of the fans. We must ensure that the technicians work with rigor."

As a result, Barcelona will not be able to face Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on Sunday (28).

Consortium sources reinforced that there is still no set date for the reopening, according to Sport.

According to the Catalan newspaper's investigation, there are discrepancies between the documentation presented and received.

However, Bonet stressed that the City is ready to open the stadium as soon as the safety protocol is met: "We will not waste a minute more than necessary."

The consortium also confirmed that Barça could use the Olympic Stadium on the 28th, although the club has not yet made an official request. "If the club needs to play at Lluís Companys, even coinciding with local festivities, we will ensure safety so that the match can take place," said Bonet.

Safety Issues

The City detailed some flaws found at Camp Nou.

According to Sport, the problems are related to emergency exits, stadium evacuation, non-compliance with regulations, poor signage, unfinished handrails and stairs, as well as accessibility issues.

The verification process involves certifiers, environmental entities, and the responsible construction company.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 JOSEP LAGO - AFP or licensors