FC Barcelona has officially announced the closure of the Espai d'Animació stand indefinitely. The decision has been taken due to fan groups failing to meet their financial obligations to the club.

Barça closes Espai d'Animació

FC Barcelona announced in an official statement that the Espai d'Animació at Montjuïc, the fan zone responsible for running the cheering, has been closed due to non-compliance with the agreements made between the club and the supporting groups. The Blaugrana authorities stressed that they had repeatedly warned representatives of the groups to settle outstanding debts amounting to €21,000, resulting from fines imposed on the club last season.

Despite three set deadlines to repay the debt, the supporters' groups failed to meet the payments, prompting the club to take drastic measures. As noted in the statement, the closure of the sector is indefinite, but Barcelona remains open to dialogue, provided the supporter groups meet their financial obligations.

Barcelona's decision comes as no surprise to observers. The problems began back in the previous season, when irresponsible behaviour by some fans at the Grada de Animación resulted in sanctions imposed on the club by La Liga, UEFA and the Generalitat de Catalunya. The financial penalty for the incidents, including the display of a Nazi banner during the match against Monaco, was €10,000.

Another flashpoint was offensive chants during a match against Sevilla. As a result, Barcelona faced further consequences, including a ban on fans travelling to the match in Belgrade. The club's president, Joan Laporta, did not hide his irritation and warned the groups Almogàvers, Front 532, Nostra Ensenya and Supporters Barça that further disregard for the rules would end in the closure of the stands.

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Fans' reactions and situation in stadium

The supporter groups that sat in the Espai d'Animació have made no secret of their outrage at the club's decision. You can't punish the collective for individual acts commented Albert Yarza, representative of the Almogàvers. Fans protested during the Champions League match against Brest by waving at tourists in the stands as a symbolic expression of discontent.

Despite the presence of 46,317 spectators at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, the lack of a cheering group was noticeable. The central section of the Gol Nord, usually occupied by 500-600 fans, remained empty. This situation also had consequences for the entire Olympic stadium in Barcelona. The cheering in the match against France's Brest was choppy and chaotic.

© Alecaom