Barcelona is taking extraordinary measures to ensure a repeat of past ticketing controversies does not mar their upcoming UEFA Champions League fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt. Next week, the Catalan giants will host the German side at Camp Nou, but this time, ticket sales are strictly limited to club members only.
The decision comes after a highly embarrassing incident in April 2022, when Barcelona faced Frankfurt in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals at home. Despite a limited allocation for the visiting supporters, nearly 30,000 Frankfurt fans managed to fill the stands in white jerseys, overshadowing the home crowd. The atmosphere, intended to support Barcelona, turned in favour of the visitors, and the team was eliminated from the competition.
Investigations later revealed that several tickets purchased by Barcelona supporters had been resold to Frankfurt fans. The incident drew significant criticism towards the club and its management. Determined to avoid a recurrence, club president Joan Laporta has implemented strict measures to protect the integrity of the matchday experience and the safety of supporters.
In an official statement, Barcelona confirmed that tickets will only be available to official club members. “This decision prioritises our members, who form the backbone of our club. Camp Nou will resonate only with the passion and excitement of Barça supporters,” the statement read. Laporta himself remarked, “We do not wish to relive the bitter memory of 2022, when the stadium was dominated by the opposition’s colours. It was a haunting experience.”
After two years of redevelopment work, Barcelona returned to Camp Nou in November, albeit with a limited capacity of 45,000 spectators. The team has already played three league matches there, but the Champions League match against Frankfurt marks their first continental return to the stadium.
The fixture carries crucial implications for Barcelona’s European ambitions. Under coach Hansi Flick, the team currently sits 18th in the Champions League group with seven points from five matches. Victory is essential to secure a top-eight finish and progress to the knockout stages. With fan safety and home advantage at stake, Barcelona is determined that Camp Nou will truly feel like a fortress for its supporters.