Barcelona Mayor: The Priority is Ensuring Safety Before Returning to Camp Nou

Barcelona Mayor, Jaume Collboni, confirmed that the top priority for the Barcelona municipality is to ensure safety before granting permission for the return of matches to Spotify Camp Nou after renovation work.

Collboni stated: "I cannot specify a date for the return of fans to Camp Nou; it depends on meeting all safety standards, and the improvements required by the technicians must be completed before granting the permit."

The mayor emphasized that the municipality shares Barcelona's concern for the timely completion of the work, but clarified: "The priority is to protect the fans, technicians, and citizens. Unless the firefighters and urban guard give their final approval, no permit will be granted."

In response to criticisms regarding the postponement of the partial opening of the stadium, Collboni said: "When technicians say the place is unsafe, it is our duty to deny the permit, just as we do with any other facility in Barcelona. In the end, what is good for Barcelona serves the city's interest."

The mayor also praised the efforts of BSM, responsible for Montjuïc Stadium, to temporarily host the team's matches, despite it conflicting with its primary activity of organizing events, adding: "The Olympic Stadium is a facility of great cultural value to the city, but we are now putting it at the service of the club."