Barcelona blocked from moving into £1.25bn stadium due to little-known rule

BARCELONA’S return to the Nou Camp has been DELAYED due to a little-known Uefa rule.

The Spanish giants have spent the last 18 months playing at the Estadio Olimpico while a £1.25billion renovation is carried out on their home ground.

Barcelona’s Nou Camp has undergone a £1.25billion renovationCredit: Rex

a construction site with a sign that says stop on it — The club had hoped to return to their home ground before the end of 2024Credit: FC Barcelona

a man in a black sweater and jeans stands on a soccer field — Hansi Flick’s side sit top of the LaLiga table after a superb startCredit: Getty

The development includes increasing capacity from 99,000 to 104,000, as well as the additions of a roof, luxury bar and new escalators.

Barcelona had hoped to move back to the Nou Camp before the end of the year.

However, Uefa rules dictate clubs cannot change stadiums before the end of the league phase of the Champions League.

It means Barcelona would either have had to play league matches at the Nou Camp and European games at the Estadio Olimpico – or push back the move.

Now, in an email to season-ticket holders who had requested a pass to the Nou Camp for the second half of the season, Barcelona have confirmed they will not return until at least mid-February.

They said this is because of “Uefa regulations that prevent changing stadiums during the initial phase of the Champions League and the logistical difficulties and extra costs involved in maintaining two large-capacity facilities operating at the same time”.

The date change means games against Valencia, Alaves and Atalanta will now take place at the Estadio Olimpico.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the first game back at the Nou Camp could either be a LaLiga clash with Rayo Vallecano on February 16 or a Champions League play-off round fixture.

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an artist 's impression of the spotify camp nou — Barcelona released virtual images in September of how the ground will look once finishedCredit: FC Barcelona

an artist 's impression of a bar in a stadium — But they will not return to the Nou Camp until at least mid-FebruaryCredit: FC Barcelona

Barcelona will discount the price of the passes to account for the matches moved from the Nou Camp to the Estadio Olimpico – the Valencia and Alaves games.

The Atalanta clash was already included in the Estadio Olimpico pass.

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Virtual images were released on the website Espai Barcelona in September showing how the ground will look once completed.

A summary of the development read: “A space where anything is possible, a place to experience new ways of enjoying sport and entertainment, strengthening inclusion and integration with the neighbourhood.

“An innovative and groundbreaking project.

“A far-reaching improvement to boost the club’s growth, ensure new sources of income, and secure the future of the organisation.”

The stadium improvements are set to earn Barcelona £25m more in revenue each year.

Barcelona sit top of the LaLiga table, six points clear of Real Madrid having played one game more.

In the Champions League, they have won three of their four matches and occupy sixth place in the table, meaning as it stands they will qualify automatically for the last-16.

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