FC Barcelona have decided that Athletic Club Bilbao will not receive an away ticket allocation for their next league game at the renovated Camp Nou.
This means the long-awaited return to the Camp Nou will take place without visiting supporters, as the club states that current construction work prevents safe segregation between the two fan bases.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona argue that essential security measures cannot be met at present and that no protected corridor exists to ensure supporters do not cross paths.
The stadium remains a building site, and there is currently no isolated, fully compliant area to house travelling supporters.
Athletic Club outline Barcelona’s explanation and regulatory limitations
Athletic Club informed its members that the Catalan side cited regulatory conditions linked to their temporary Category 1B licence.
Barcelona explained that they cannot yet guarantee the minimum requirements for separation, control and protection that visiting supporters must receive under established safety rules.
According to the Basque club, Barcelona stated that independent access routes are unavailable, making it impossible to create exclusive entry circuits for travelling fans.
The existing points would cause unavoidable cross-flows with home supporters, posing an unacceptable safety risk under current circumstances at the partially rebuilt stadium.
Barcelona also noted that the stands lack the physical zoning elements required to securely isolate the away sector.
Structural improvements to resolve these issues are already in progress and expected to be completed in the coming weeks, but they are not yet ready for operational use.
Impact on Athletic supporters and cancelled ticket allocation
Athletic Club confirmed that 468 members had already registered for the ballot to attend the fixture, with tickets set at thirty euros.
However, the club has had to cancel the planned draw and cannot distribute any allocation due to Barcelona’s safety restrictions and incomplete facilities.
The situation has disappointed many travelling supporters, particularly given the significance of the first match back at the rebuilt Camp Nou.
Athletic Club emphasised that the decision rests entirely on safety grounds and that they will resume normal allocations once Barcelona certify the necessary improvements.
FGG Says
Barcelona’s decision highlights the realities of reopening a stadium that remains partially under construction. While supporters understandably hoped for a full return, the club is bound by strict safety requirements, especially when handling visiting fans.
Athletic Club have communicated the situation transparently, yet frustration among travelling supporters is inevitable. The absence of an away contingent diminishes the atmosphere that usually enriches these fixtures, but the priority must be ensuring that proper infrastructure and secure access routes are in place.