Catalan newspaper El Periódico present negative views of Newcastle United fans
Catalan newspaper El Periódico present negative views of Newcastle United fans
Newcastle United fans have been accused of causing “significant disruptions” in Barcelona, leading to sweeping changes in how the city deals with such crowds in future.
El Periódico report that Barcelona is studying a plan to control ‘hooligans’ as local residents complain about the impact on their lives.
New crowd control plans
The Barcelona City Council yesterday approved the development of a plan to ensure safety and ‘harmonious coexistence’ in public spaces, as well as to mitigate the damage cause by the arrival of large groups of ‘radical fans’ for sporting events.
The focus is particularly on Barcelona and their European games at the Camp Nou. The new proposal, presented by Barcelona en Comú, is to create a ‘preventative protocol’ for such occasions.
“Barcelona coexists with sporting events that place a strain on the city, and often, the city bears the brunt of the consequences,” observed Councilman Jordi Rabassa, of the *Comuns* party.
Newcastle United in firing line
Newcastle United’s trip to Barcelona on 18th March is presented as the prime of example of why change is necessary.
10,000 Newcastle fans arrived in the city for that game, leading to unrest and disruption, something Rabassa wants stopped.
“The majority arrived without tickets, resulting in an exceptionally high concentration of people in areas such as Plaça Reial and the vicinity of La Rambla,” the councilman noted.
“In the affected neighbourhoods, this translates into an inability to rest, streets and squares that are overcrowded and excessively filthy, and significant difficulties for residents to move about normally.
“The residents are fed up with people urinating in their building entrances. They can no longer tolerate the shouting and the filth. It happens every time there is an event of this kind,” lamented Rabassa.
Measures against hooligans
He was supported by Jordi Martí. He drew attention to frequent issues around Camp Nou. Newcastle United fans again found themselves in the firing line.
“Following the severe disruption caused by Newcastle supporters, we asked how many fines had been issued under the new civility ordinance. The response we received was that they had done everything *but* enforce the ordinance,” he said.
Various plans are now being put in place for the future. These include traffic flow measures, widening sidewalks and an agreement with local bars not to sell drinks in glass bottles.
There may also be a focus on businesses running ‘special promotions’ on match days. Rabassa then brought up the subject of ‘hooligans’ and a need to “shift toward a more preventive approach”.
All in all, he wants a sense of shared responsibility between the city and the club.
Usual European complaints
From the outside, the complaints seem a little ridiculous.
Barcelona seems happy to build a 105,000-seater stadium to get rival fans in. They’re happy for the money they bring, but don’t want the consequences of that either.
While its fair that locals and councillors may be tired, they may want to think hard about the long-term benefits of treating every fan, every time, like a criminal.
That seems to be the tone from Rabassa and co here, and it won’t work out well long-term.