Barcelona bar Espanyol fans’ entry to Spotify Camp Nou for derby

Barcelona will resume their campaign at the end of the month when they play hosts to local rivals Espanyol.

Sitting at the top of the league table at this moment, the Catalans will be hoping to restart the campaign on a positive note.

However, heading into the derby, Barcelona have taken a rather peculiar move by banning the entry of Espanyol fans into the stadium. The club has announced on its official website that there will be an ‘absolute ban’ on tickets for the away supporters.

In addition to the Espanyol fans, anyone wearing the blue and white jersey will be barred from entering the stadium. Fans will also be unable to enter the stadium with the Espanyol emblems or flags, reports Diario AS.

“The sale of tickets for Espanyol fans is prohibited. Likewise, fans who come with Espanyol clothing or emblems will be denied entry to the stadium,” said the official statement.

Barcelona argue that this move has been made in light of what happened in last season’s Europa League game when 30,000 Eintracht Frankfurt overran the stadium and dominated the audience. The tickets were distributed within the Barcelona stands of the stadium.

The Catalans are determined to avoid a similar situation by barring the entry of Espanyol fans in this upcoming derby.

These restrictions do not apply only at Camp Nou either as Barcelona have also come up with similar measures at Palau Blaugrana, where Partizan fans were refunded for lack of entry in a Euroleague Basketball game.