The end of one of the few legacies that Laporta applauded from Bartomeu

BarcelonaDuring the last election campaign, Joan Laporta positioned himself in favour of the Barça Animation Space (EDA). In his first term he had thrown out the Boixos Nois for being violent and for having threatened him and other members of the board. On the other hand, he praised the current EDA for its "passionate" animation and "civic" behaviour of its members. He said that "they were clear that the limit is violence" and that they had "proven" it. He even stated that it was one of the few legacies that he applauded from the outgoing board of Josep Maria Bartomeu. Five years later, the praise has become a open war that could end up in court, with the EDA closed sine die and the board of directors looking for a way to create an alternative animation stand.

This week was the day of a board meeting and on Monday the club issued a statement explaining that a "participatory process" will be launched to create the new animation stand. Not thinking about Montjuïc, which will be left without EDA permanently, but for the future Camp Nou, which has reserved at least 1,500 seats in the first tier of the south goal for when the works have finished. Although Barça will oversee its creation, it will be an external company that will be in charge of carrying out the project. In the text, Barça invites "anyone who wants" to "reach a consensus." From members to players, including club workers and experts in animation stands. At the moment only its owner and little else is known. The new format must be approved in July. Between August and September the new space must be given its final form, which will see the light with the return to the stadium with provisional capacity and will be implemented at 100% once the works have completely finished.

The announcement on Monday surprised some workers and members of the board, who admit that they were not aware of it. "We only knew what Elena said [referring to vice-president Elena Fort], that there would be animation, but not in what format," they point out from the noble offices, where they detail that the project "is still very green." Starting with the company, which has not yet been contracted and which, with the internal protocol in hand, should be chosen through a competition where a minimum of three different budgets would be requested. The members who formed part of the EDA think that the proposal is "grotesque." They consider it an "improvisation" and a "smoke screen to cover up the popular clamor."

They are not wrong. It is a hot topic in the street, in the stands and in the many discussions about current affairs at Barça. That is why the club tries to channel all information through official channels and has advised the players, who have a match every three days and regularly appear before the media, to refrain from taking a position on the issue to avoid adding fuel to the fire.

There is also a political component, because some members of the EDA claim to have voted for Laporta in the last elections. "We are still a representation of the Barça stands," they say. In total there are around 2,000 registered members, counting the permanent and sporadic ones that existed at the Camp Nou before the reform. A very tempting candy for the opposition, which has already made contact discreetly to test the waters. However, if there is any alliance it will not be in the short term, since the fans prefer to use up their last cartridges to return to Montjuïc in this final stretch of the season.

Barça assures that it will give more details about the new animation stand shortly

Official sources at Barça also admit that there are still "loose ends to iron out", but they assure the ARA that the proposal is not new and has been in the making for some time. They add that "in the coming days" more details of the participatory process will be given. They also assure that "there will be no prior vetoes". Therefore, the doors are open to everyone, including the members who until now formed part of the EDA. The only restrictions a priori are the same as now: the filter of the Mossos d'Esquadra or someone who has an open disciplinary file on an individual basis. This last aspect does not affect the members of the EDA, since in their case the closure was applied at a collective level.

It remains to be resolved the 21,000 euro fine imposed on the club for the bad behaviour of fans last season, which Barça had already paid but was now demanding from the members of the EDA. The supporters have already said over and over again that they are not going to be paid. And even less so now, when they have been removed from the Montjuïc stands and have not had the option of renewing their season ticket for the second part of the season.

A few days ago, the affected supporters sent a mass email to the Barcelona Supporters' Office (OAB). It was a joint action to explore the legal route. On the other hand, they have made themselves known in the last two home games, displaying a banner against Rayo and receiving the players' bus with flares before Atlético de Madrid. Barça remains inflexible. The decision has been made.