Barcelona left waiting for Camp Nou return after permit denied
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The stadium was supposed to reopen in November 2024 but the date has been pushed back several times.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BARCELONA – Barcelona must wait to return to their renovated Camp Nou home after the city council turned down their request for an essential permit on Sept 23.
The Spanish champions were hoping to host Real Sociedad there on Sept 28 in La Liga with a reduced capacity crowd of 27,000.
The Catalan giants will instead hold the game at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on the city’s Montjuic hill, where they played for the previous two seasons during works at Camp Nou, with renovations now nine months behind schedule.
“The club continues to work on obtaining the necessary administrative permits for the opening of Spotify Camp Nou in the coming weeks,” said Barcelona in a statement.
“Currently, the club is working on the new amendments that the council has shared today.”
The city’s fire department said there were problems with evacuation routes, among other safety issues. “We have spotted different elements that need to be fixed and have an impact in the safety and security of the stadium,” chief of civil protection Sebastia Massague said at a city council meeting.
Laia Bonet, Barcelona’s deputy mayor, said: “We share the club’s desire to return as soon as possible, but this city council must guarantee the safety of everyone who wants to go to the stadium.
“We will have maximum collaboration with the club so that they can resolve the outstanding issues.
“We will not take a month or a minute longer than necessary to grant the initial occupancy license when we have (all we need).”
Barcelona’s operations director Joan Sentelles told reporters earlier on Sept 23 during a tour of the stadium: “Just because it’s not finished, doesn’t mean it’s not safe.”
He also said the roof will be put on the stadium in the summer of 2027, a year later than originally planned. The stadium was supposed to reopen in November 2024 but the date has been pushed back several times
Hansi Flick’s side played away for the first three weeks of the season to provide time to get the stadium ready to be reopened.
After a Post Malone concert left the Lluis Companys pitch in poor condition, they then hosted Valencia and Getafe at the 6,000-capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff beside their training ground, still waiting for permission to reopen Camp Nou.
Barcelona are estimated to be paying €1.5 billion (S$2.27 billion) for the Camp Nou rebuild.
The Catalan club also announced that their Champions League group-stage match against Paris Saint-Germain on Oct 1 would also take place at the Lluis Companys.
Barca are second in La Liga, trailing leaders Real Madrid by five points but having played a game fewer. AFP, REUTERS
