Barcelona has implemented strict ticket measures for its upcoming UEFA Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt to prevent a repeat of the 2022 fan invasion. All seats will be reserved exclusively for club members, prioritizing safety and home support at the redeveloped Spotify Camp Nou. The decision comes amid recent ticketing issues and lingering memories of the painful Europa League defeat.
Barcelona is set to host Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, marking the club's first European fixture at the partially reopened Spotify Camp Nou since November. With capacity limited to around 45,000 due to ongoing construction, the match carries added significance after two years playing at the Olympic Stadium.
The measures stem from the infamous April 2022 Europa League quarterfinal, when tens of thousands of Frankfurt supporters overwhelmed Camp Nou, turning the stadium into a sea of white shirts and celebrating a 3-2 aggregate victory on Barcelona's home turf. Local media labeled it a "historical embarrassment," and club president Joan Laporta has voiced his determination to avoid a similar scene. "I don’t want to have the feeling we had during that game in 2022. It’s a horrific memory, the stadium full of opposition shirts," Laporta said at a recent event.
Recent scrutiny intensified after a technical glitch in the ticketing system during a La Liga match against Alavés, which affected over 7,000 members and delayed their entry while non-members entered smoothly. In response, Barcelona announced that all available seats for the Frankfurt game will be reserved for members only. The club's statement emphasized: "This decision has been taken to safeguard the safety of Barça supporters and to prevent a repeat of the situation experienced in April 2022, when the majority of spectators in the stadium were not supporters of the home team."
Further, the club added: "With this measure, the club grants absolute priority to its members, who are the backbone of the institution, and ensures that the stadium will be a space of celebration and exclusive support for Barça fans." Any tickets held by Frankfurt supporters outside the official away section will be traced back to the member who resold them.
On the pitch, Hansi Flick's Barcelona side sits three points behind the top eight in the Champions League standings, keeping hopes alive for direct qualification to the round of 16. Frankfurt, meanwhile, urgently needs points to remain in contention for a knockout spot.