Barcelona's Camp Nou return delayed as city council denies permit

Barcelona's long-awaited return to their renovated Camp Nou has been pushed back after the city council rejected the club's request for an essential safety permit on Tuesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The Spanish champions had hoped to host Real Sociedad this Sunday at their iconic home with a reduced capacity of 27,000 spectators. Instead, Hansi Flick's men will continue to play at the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic hill, their temporary base for the past two seasons during construction.“The club continues to work on obtaining the necessary administrative permits for the opening of Spotify Camp Nou in the coming weeks,” Barcelona said in a statement, adding that they are working on amendments requested by the council.The city's fire department highlighted issues with evacuation routes and other safety concerns. Deputy mayor Laia Bonet stressed that public safety was the council's top priority.“We share the club's desire to return as soon as possible, but this city council must guarantee the safety of everyone who wants to go to the stadium,” Bonet said. “We will not take a month or a minute longer than necessary to grant the license once all requirements are met.”

Barcelona's operations director, Joan Sentelles, defended the stadium's progress: “Just because it's not finished, doesn't mean it's not safe,” he told reporters, noting that the roof will now be completed in summer 2027, a year later than scheduled.Initially set to reopen in November 2024, the Camp Nou project has faced repeated delays. The rebuild is estimated to cost €1.5 billion ($1.75 billion).For now, Barcelona's homecoming remains on hold, leaving fans eager for their return to Europe's largest football stadium waiting a little longer.