The new “Fem Barça” initiative, which brings together various opinion groups, was introduced at the Pompeu Fabra Hall of the Ateneu Barcelonès, with the attendance of several prominent figures from the blaugrana universe. This initiative aims to unite forces within Barça movement through a new project that places social aspects at the heart of the Club, seeking unity in social matters due to concerns about the current governance model. The event was led by the project’s promoters: Ricard Faura, from Dignitat Blaugrana, and Jaume Barroso, from Compromissaris FCB.
Among the attendees were Antoni Guil, president of the Confederació Mundial de Penyes, Víctor Font, leader of Sí al Futur, and representatives from various Barça-related collectives such as Xavi Vilajoana, Marc Ciria, Ernest Pérez-Mas (“Suma Barça”), Albert Navas (“Som un Clam”), among others.
The role of members and penyes
Ricard Faura began by appealing to the club’s owners: “The member must once again be the central axis of the Club, as Barça cannot be understood without its popular roots and collective ownership model”. Jaume Barroso highlighted the concerning aging of the membership and stressed the need to instill Barça passion in children and grandchildren. It was also announced that a letter will be sent to the Club requesting that the assembly be held in a hybrid format (in-person and online). The letter will also include requests for information to be provided with enough time for analysis and for the assembly to last a full day so that all issues raised by delegates can be addressed.
The event included a roundtable where guests shared their views on the new social project for the Club. Salva Torres, vice president of the Confederació Mundial de Penyes, defended the organization, created in 2015 and neglected by the Club in recent years. He also referred to the historical role of the penyes as true promoters of Barcelonism worldwide. He added: “Our Club has always been socially different from the rest, and our model must remain so, placing penyes and members at the center of the Club”.
Carles Ordiales, from Seguiment FCB, spoke about the worrying lack of organization in fan travel, whether for La Liga or European matches. He recalled that the Club’s own travel agency “was working very well, but in recent seasons the Club has cut back on trips and made them much more expensive, bringing us back to the situation before 2015.” He added that “in recent years, members and penyistes have had to find their own way to matches, even for particularly difficult trips like last week’s to Newcastle.”
Defending the Grada d’Animació
To close the roundtable, Albert Yarza, president of Penya Almogàvers, a historic FC Barcelona supporters’ group, defended their role: “We deserve a dialogue with the Club and a resolution to this issue, for the good of the team and our social base.” Yarza expressed frustration that the Club has not resolved the conflict after expelling four penyes from the “Grada d’Animació” of Montjuïc last season and indefinitely revoking their season tickets. All three roundtable participants emphasized that Barça needs the energy of the stands and that Montjuïc has felt very cold. They also noted that members and penyistes have lost space, influence, and voice in the Club’s social decisions.
During the Q&A session, Antoni Guil, president of the Confederació Mundial de Penyes, defended the Grada d’Animació: “It was a model that worked and should not have been changed, as it was supported by all stakeholders. It’s inexplicable that the current board eliminated it without providing a clear reason and refused any meetings with them.” Guil also encouraged all Barça fans to join the new social project Fem Barça to defend members’ rights and revive the penyes movement.
