Barcelona Face Fresh Delays to Camp Nou Reopening Amid Safety Concerns

Barcelona’s long-awaited return to the Camp Nou has been delayed once again, as the club confirmed on Thursday that their iconic stadium will not be ready to host the upcoming Champions League clash with Olympiacos.

The Catalan giants had hoped to secure the necessary permit from the city council in time for the European fixture on October 21st, but fresh administrative and safety issues have forced another postponement. Instead, the match will be played at the Olympic Stadium, where Barcelona also suffered a 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week.

In an official statement, the club said: “Barcelona is continuing to work to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of the Camp Nou in the coming days.”

Despite more than two years of renovation work, the stadium is still not ready to host matches, even on a reduced-capacity basis. Concerns raised by the city’s fire department include problems with evacuation routes and overall safety standards, leaving the project stalled.

Renovation Struggles

The grand reopening of Camp Nou was originally planned for November 2024, but multiple delays have already pushed back the timeline. The ambitious project, costing an estimated €1.5 billion (£1.3bn), aims to transform the stadium into a modern football landmark with a final capacity of 105,000 seats.

To accommodate construction, Barcelona started their La Liga campaign away from home before temporarily shifting to the Johan Cruyff Stadium, which holds just 6,000 fans. While the club recently hosted Valencia and Getafe there, European nights remain out of reach until Camp Nou is certified safe.

Key Takeaways:

Camp Nou reopening delayed due to safety permit issues.
Champions League clash vs Olympiacos moved to the Olympic Stadium.
Fire department highlights evacuation route problems.
Final stadium capacity expected to reach 105,000 seats.

Barcelona investing €1.5 billion in renovation.

For fans, the delay is another setback in what was meant to be a historic return. Until safety approvals are secured, Barcelona’s Champions League campaign will continue away from the home of the Blaugrana.