Shame on Barcelona

rascal · February 6, 2014

Able-bodied adults, £77. Wheelchair users, £97. A free assistant is provided. Just think about that for one moment. For once, put your political views to one side. For once, just look at that with sense of humanity.

There isn’t a post today, I find it too sickening to contemplate one with the knowledge that one of the world’s biggest clubs will openly and brazenly discriminate against disabled supporters. More disgusting is that their opponents do nothing. Nothing. No briefing to the press, no public berating of UEFA to humiliate them into action. Their silence signals they are complicit in the pricing structure.

Barcelona. The ultimate in betrayal. The ultimate in hypocrisy. Manchester City? Why expect anything more?

Jesus wept, where do football clubs learn sense? The price is irrelevant, the step taken is too far. Discriminating against wheelchair users? **** me.

It’s time for UEFA to take a stand, ban both clubs from competition for this season, next. Hit them where they will take notice. But they won’t, they never do; discrimination be it racial, sexual or now disability-related, is swept under the carpet and ignored. Nobody gives a toss.

Everything that is wrong with football today encapsulated in two ticket prices. And a little bit more of the game dies.

Taken from elsewhere.

Garrick · February 6, 2014

This is allowed? Wow. It's straight up against the law in the US.

For shame.

Tubey · February 6, 2014

It's illegal, they simply aren't allowed to do it. Something has gone wrong in the process obviously.

Mikey_Fitzgerald · February 6, 2014

Didn't Man United fans have similar problems in the 99 Final at the Nou Camp?

Mikey_Fitzgerald · February 6, 2014

Just tweeted this to UEFA

I doubt they'll do anything, but if enough people tweet them, maybe they'll at least take a look at it

Let's get #shameonbarca trending!

mawders · February 7, 2014

Maybe it has something to do with the area of the ground the respective supporters are in. I think away fans in the nou camp are up way way high in the corner whereas I would expect disabled fans to be closer to the pitch (where prices are more expensive) in a designated area. A relevant comparison of prices would be to the nearest "able bodied" seating. I agree though, it doesn't look good.

Rook · February 7, 2014

Being the world's biggest bunch of cheats: Check

Selling ad space to a country that for all intensive purposes has slave labor: check

Overcharging the handicapped: check

Its OK though because DEMOCRACY!!

ToffeeDan · February 7, 2014

Yeah right, because your average disabled fan is definitely up for a trip to Barcelona - with companion costs and extra ticket costs. Talk about being ripped off!!

Simon Smith · February 7, 2014

Anyone know how you start an online petition to send to the powers that be, even to their local MP or Euro MP?

njligernj · February 7, 2014

mawders said:
Maybe it has something to do with the area of the ground the respective supporters are in. I think away fans in the nou camp are up way way high in the corner whereas I would expect disabled fans to be closer to the pitch (where prices are more expensive) in a designated area. A relevant comparison of prices would be to the nearest "able bodied" seating. I agree though, it doesn't look good.

This is possible. Also possible it's just a mistake -- the "ban 'em for two years!" rhetoric is a little over the top. My father was confined to a wheelchair for a portion of his life and my best friend is a special needs teacher (and has a child with special needs) so I'm in no way insensitive to this issue ... I just find it hard to believe two of the richest clubs in the world got together and decided what they really needed was to screw over a couple of hundred differently abled people for an extra 20 quid.

Of course they should fix it -- even if mawders explanation is the case and they need to lower the price "unfairly" (compared with the cost of comparable seats) it's an obvious goodwill move.