Barcelona make special Champions League request to UEFA as Joan Laporta opens up on Camp Nou return delays

Amidst the chaos surrounding the Camp Nou renovation, Barcelona president Laporta has confirmed that the club asked UEFA to schedule their first game of the Champions League away from home. Per UEFA rules, a club will not be permitted to use two different venues as home stadiums, which could thwart Barca's hopes of playing the four games of the league phase at Camp Nou.

Barcelona have overpromised and underdelivered with respect to the dates of their return to Camp Nou. Initial promises included a late 2024 return to the iconic stadium, which was then pushed back further. They were confident of hosting the Joan Gamper friendly game on August 10, having received approval for the modification of the Activity and Construction Licenses. However, they have not been granted the First Occupancy License permit from the City Council, which prompted the club to move the Joan Gamper game against Como to Estadi Johan Cruyff. They may be forced to return to the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys for their first home game of the Champions League, which would mean they have to play all of their home games in the first phase of the competition there.

Speaking in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Laporta said: "What we've asked UEFA is to allow us to play the first game away from home. The draw is on August 28, and we'll see then. I hope UEFA allows us to play away. We're increasingly developing a better relationship with UEFA. I greatly respect the work that Aleksander Ceferin, its president, is doing, and I think we can trust them."

The president has admitted that further delays will severely impact the club's finances, especially if they are forced to wait until January 2026 before they can return to Camp Nou.

"We're not considering the possibility of not returning. All the budgets we've made for next season and all the commitments we have based on the financing contract are contemplated with returning to the Spotify Camp Nou," he said. "We'd have to redo everything. We're used to dealing with complicated situations, but we always hope that when the time comes, things will calm down. And here we always have to be alert and attentive to any unforeseen events that may arise, but within our logic, we want to be able to return to the Spotify Camp Nou as soon as possible and thus be able to fulfill, and will be fulfilled, everything budgeted under the financing contract we have with Goldman."

As things stand, Barca might have to wait until January 2026 before they can return to their original home. In the meantime, they are expected to begin the 2025-26 campaign by having the Montjuic Stadium as their home ground. The club will notify both La Liga and UEFA of their final decision with regards to Camp Nou by mid-August, with the club desperately hoping that they can meet the City Council's criteria and receive the First Occupancy License before the Champions League kicks off in September.