“The first thing I thought was that it must be an electoralist movement, but taking into account the meeting and what happened afterwards, I have reason to think that it is for real”, says one of the sources consulted, linked to one of the four groups that were part of the space. As has happened so often in EDA-related topics, almost everyone prefers to speak anonymously. “We saw an opportunity for dialogue and we don’t want to spoil anything”, justifies another of those consulted. Almogàvers, Nostra Ensenya, Supporters Barça and Front 532 are the four groups involved. After seeing themselves out of the Camp Nou, they now believe they could return before the end of the season, once the 1c license is received and the Espai d’Animació, now located at the bottom of the south goal, is given permission to occupy.
The uncomfortable cries of “Barça yes, Laporta no”
The club also speaks cautiously and the entity, through its official channels, prefers not to make statements. But, no matter how small-mouthed, it is admitted in the offices that the proximity of the elections has had an influence. The shouts of “Barça yes, Laporta no” were becoming uncomfortable in the box office. In addition, the groups did not like at all that Elena Fort, the institutional vice-president, admitted in a meeting with members that the EDA had been closed either yes or no, regardless of the fines, thus confirming what the ARA had already published. Fort was not present at the meeting, where no Blaugrana manager was present. The club delegated the negotiations to Enric Bosch, member of the social area. “The first meeting took place in a very positive climate, of respect and willingness to understand, which has made it possible to share visions and establish the foundations to jointly build an entertainment stand representative of all Barça fans”, Barça said the next day through a statement.
There was nervousness in the board, after learning that the four groups of the former EDA had collected signatures to demand that the space be reopened. Barça’s proposal, Gol 1957, was an attempt to give the thousand member seats available to young people who are on the Camp Nou season ticket waiting list. It had to be carried out through an external company, although the idea did not quite take off. Tired of waiting, and seeing that the requirements to be part of this newly created space left them out, the groups had organized an event at the College of Journalists to exert pressure, as it advanced Sport. Faced with the threat of presenting a very high number of signatures, the club moved the file by calling them to a meeting to try to calm spirits. In the end, the conference was not held.
But there was still a doubt in the atmosphere. Was the proposal really firm or a simple electoral movement? Both the tone of the meeting and the subsequent reactions invite optimism. In fact, groups have already sent out an internal questionnaire among their members to sign up for the new EDA if it eventually reopens.
The 21,000 euros fine will remain on wet paper
And the fines? “The message was: let’s forget what has happened so far and start from scratch,” says one of the attendees. It was not explicitly discussed at the meeting, but with this message everyone understood that the page would be turned and the groups’ debt would be forgiven. And that the groups, which had threatened to take the case to court, will also take a step back. So far only one meeting has taken place and the intention of all parties involved is to hold more, but “with discretion”. Groups want to return to their place without restrictions. Barça, despite suggesting that some of them – such as Supporters Barça – should be left out, is prepared to admit them all as long as very clear limits are set in relation to certain offensive chants or insults. What will not change is that the Mossos will have the final say on who can access the premises and who cannot.
Who was not at the negotiating table was Carles Ordiales, the president of Seguiment FCB. This group, which was very few signatures away from being able to present itself in the 2015 elections, had requested from the first day an entertainment space and a travel program subsidized by Barça for travel. Two things that the board of Laporta has cut. Today Seguiment FCB is part of Nostalre, the candidacy of Víctor Fort for the presidency. Skeptical, Ordiales is clear that it is “an electoral movement” by the board. Time will tell if he is right or not.
