The financial situation of FC Barcelona is so delicate that Joan Laporta has decided to deactivate the Animation Stand. The players have taken it very badly.
With the radical Boixos Nois eliminated, FC Barcelona had a well-populated animation stand of more than 500 fans. They never stopped cheering the team in all their home games.
Barça Plays in Montjuïc in Silence
Over time, differences have arisen between the club and the members of the Animation Stand. The club withdrew its support if they didn't pay the 21,000 euros imposed on the club as a sanction for their chants.
The fans felt betrayed by the club, stopped attending the stadium, and now Montjuïc celebrates its matches in silence. If it was already a cold and distant venue, now even more so.
The players have tried to mediate in search of a solution to the issue. But the club remains firm. It has even launched an initiative to replace the old animation stand with a new one.
Laporta Needs Intermediaries to Organize the Club
Meanwhile, Laporta, who needs intermediaries and commissioners for everything, has left the matter in the hands of an external company expert in "animation, mediation, and participation processes." And in the meantime, "promote dialogue and the exchange of ideas" while the new project is finalized.
Faced with the lack of subscribers (barely 22,000 out of the actual 85,000), Montjuïc is filled with tourists. More curious than fans, who leave money in the club but don't bring warmth to the team.
And, worse still, in Champions League matches, Montjuïc can seem like a neutral or directly foreign field. For the Barça-Benfica match, the arrival of 3,000 Portuguese fans is expected, capable of making more noise than the rest of the local fans.
There is a lot of concern about the issue within the blaugrana squad. Accustomed to hostile environments on their travels, they miss the warmth of their own fans.
Raphinha Offers to Pay Out of His Own Pocket
Raphinha himself offered to pay the 21,000 euros fine out of his own pocket if the club didn't. All to regain the support of the fans.
FC Barcelona closed the Animation Stand in November 2024, composed of nearly 600 fans from the Penya Almogàvers, Nostra Ensenya, Front 532, and Supporters Barça.
Laporta informed them that the club had nearly 21,000 euros in pending fines derived from their chants. And that if they didn't pay it, they wouldn't be allowed access to the club's facilities.
Failing to reach an agreement, the club opted for the quick route by disabling the Animation Stand.