Just after welcoming fans back, Barca’s brand-new Camp Nou stadium has been vandalized

Following over a year of anticipation, Barcelona reopened the Spotify Camp Nou stadium for supporters in a special test event, yet regrettably, an issue took place.

After more than 16 months of extensive renovation costing up to 1.5 billion euros, Barcelona held an open training session for the public at Camp Nou, the club’s iconic stadium and a landmark in world football. About 23,000 supporters attended to watch Hansi Flick’s stars train live, creating an electrifying atmosphere. This was considered a crucial test before officially welcoming spectators for La Liga matches at the end of November.

President Joan Laporta stated the club is awaiting official approval to host matches against Athletic Club (Nov 22) or Alavés (Nov 29) at Camp Nou, coinciding with the celebration of Barcelona’s 126th anniversary. If the necessary procedures are not completed in time, Barca may postpone the reopening until the game against Atlético Madrid in early December.

According to Spanish media, three VIP seats in the main stand were completely broken after a group of spectators stood up to watch the training. Although no injuries occurred, the images of newly damaged seats just hours after use raised concerns about the behavior of some fans.

Sources from the club said the broken seats will be replaced next week, and management will increase supervision and control in the VIP area during upcoming events. “We understand fans are very eager to return to Camp Nou, but it is crucial that everyone respects the facilities, which are the pride of the club,” a Barcelona representative shared.

Although not fully completed, the first two tiers of the stands are nearly finished, while the third tier and the modern roof are expected to be completed by 2027. Once finished, Camp Nou will have a capacity of 105,000 seats, becoming one of the largest and most modern stadiums in the world.

For now, Barcelona has been authorized to admit up to 25,991 spectators, but the club is awaiting approval to raise the limit to 45,401 seats, enough for major La Liga matches.

After a long period playing at the Olympic Lluis Companys stadium, both fans and players eagerly anticipate the true “homecoming.” However, the recent minor incident serves as a reminder that organizational measures and audience discipline must be tightened before Camp Nou officially reopens.

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