Barcelona fan groups to stage silent protest in derby game against Espanyol

A few Barcelona fan groups have announced they will stage a silent protest by refraining from cheering for the first 15 minutes of the derby at Montjuic.

This decision follows recent actions taken by the club’s board, sparking discontent among the fans who provide relentless support for the team.

What happened?

As reported by MARCA, the protest is led by several fan groups who occupy the Grada d’Animacio, a 600-seat section known for its vocal support during matches.

These groups have decided to remain silent as a statement against the club’s recent demand to pay €21,000 in fines accrued last season.

In addition, the board, under President Joan Laporta, has warned that further incidents could lead to more severe measures, including closing the Grada d’Animacio for a match.

This season, Barcelona has already been sanctioned by La Liga, UEFA, and the Generalitat for instances involving chants, banners, and flares, prompting the board’s stricter stance.

Why it happened?

The club issued a notarial request to the fan groups demanding repayment for fines from the 2023-24 season, citing the need to curb incidents of inappropriate behaviour.

In their response, the Grada d’Animacio acknowledged occasional “undesirable chants” but insisted these were isolated incidents and not orchestrated by the entire stand.

They expressed frustration with the board’s approach, stating that “the just will end up paying for the sinners.”

Instead of punitive measures, the group called for dialogue with the club to find a more constructive solution.

Following the initial silent protest, they plan to resume cheering, reinforcing their role as the 12th player.