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Diari de Catalunya

Barcelona City Council Calls for Changes in RFEF Grass Regulations for Primera RFEF

The Barcelona council requests a modification of the RFEF's natural grass regulations, without addressing immediate changes at Narcís Sala and Nou Sardenya stadiums.

Generic image of a soccer ball on artificial turf.
IA

Generic image of a soccer ball on artificial turf.

The Barcelona municipal Government has urged the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to review its natural grass regulations, deeming them “unsustainable,” although it has not specified solutions for the affected municipal fields.

Four days after the promotion of Unió Esportiva Sant Andreu (UESA) to Primera RFEF, the city council's Sports Councilor, David Escudé, addressed the media. The RFEF regulations require natural grass for this category, a condition that Narcís Sala, UESA's stadium, does not meet, as it has artificial turf. If the change is not made by the end of August, the club will not be able to play at its home ground.
During his speech, the councilor made no explicit mention of changing the turf at either Narcís Sala or Nou Sardenya, the stadium of Club Esportiu Europa. Both fields are municipally owned, and the responsibility for finding a solution lies with the City Council. Both clubs have stated that playing outside their stadiums will compromise their economic viability. UESA, moreover, has a contractual clause preventing them from playing outside the Sant Andreu district.
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"Six months is unfair, just as it would be unfair if there were no moratorium for the first time in history."

David Escudé · Barcelona Sports Councilor
The City Council's discourse has focused on the need to modify the RFEF regulations, which it considers “unfair” and “unsustainable.” The councilor indicated that he has spoken with the Generalitat's Sports Minister, Berni Álvarez, who shares this view. The council advocates for administrations, the Catalan Football Federation, and clubs to collaborate in promoting this modification.
For UESA, installing natural grass at Narcís Sala would be relatively straightforward, as the field had it until 2005. The club estimates a cost of 400,000 euros and a two-month timeframe for the works. In the case of Nou Sardenya, the situation is more complex and costly due to the presence of a gym and a car park beneath the stadium, which could lead to water leakage issues.
The councilor also emphasized the importance of reinstating the moratorium that the RFEF has canceled for the upcoming season. He believes this moratorium should be for one year, instead of six months, to allow for the study of each case and the finding of appropriate solutions. According to the councilor, natural grass is unsustainable both environmentally and from a sporting and social perspective, as it “expels” the clubs' grassroots.

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