If you’ve ever watched a Champions League game at Camp Nou, you’ve probably noticed something strange…
As the UCL anthem plays, instead of silence or polite clapping, you hear the fan’s loud boos echoing through the stadium.
What’s up with that? 🤔
IT ALL STARTED WITH THE UEFA BAN IN 2015
The boos aren’t random.
They go way back to 2015, when UEFA fined FC Barcelona after fans displayed pro-Catalan independence flags (Esteladas) during a Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen on 29 September 2015.
💡 That same year (2015), FC Barcelona won the Champions League trophy against Juventus in the final.
For many Culers (Barça fans), that felt like an attack not just on the club but on freedom of expression and Catalan identity.
UEFA’s fine was around €30,000, but it wasn’t the money that bothered fans…
It was the principal.
The anthem quickly became a symbol of protest against what fans saw as unfair treatment from UEFA.
FOR BARCA FANS, IT’S BIGGER THAN FOOTBALL
Barcelona is “Més que un club” which translates to “more than a club”.
It’s deeply tied to Catalonia’s political and cultural identity.
So when UEFA tried to silence pro-Catalan messages in the stands, fans took it personally.
Booing the anthem became a peaceful but loud way to say:
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT ONE FINE
Since that 2015 incident, Barca fans have had a growing list of complaints against UEFA:
- Suspicious refereeing decisions in big UCL matches.
- A feeling that Barca gets treated more harshly than other clubs.
- The handling of the Super League saga, where UEFA came down hard on Barca and other major clubs.
- Ongoing tensions with institutions that fans think don’t respect their club or region.
So now, every time that Champions League anthem starts playing, it’s like pressing a button.
The boos come out automatically.
OTHER CLUBS THAT BOO THE UCL ANTHEM
Barcelona isn’t the only club where fans have turned their backs literally or figuratively on the Champions League anthem.
Here’s a quick list of others:
Manchester City
City fans have booed the anthem multiple times, especially after UEFA’s Financial Fair Play investigations.
Many felt the club was unfairly targeted and that UEFA had a bias against them.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
PSG supporters have booed during the anthem in protest of UEFA sanctions and decisions seen as politically motivated or anti-PSG.
Galatasaray
Turkish fans have occasionally booed due to tensions with UEFA, especially after controversial decisions or sanctions involving Turkish teams.
Besiktas
Similar to Galatasaray fans, Besiktas fans have shown their frustration with UEFA rulings, particularly those related to club bans and fines.
Juventus
Juve fans booed the anthem around the Super League fallout when UEFA clashed with clubs trying to break away.
Booing was a way to express disapproval of UEFA‘s handling of the situation.
Real Madrid (occasionally)
While not as consistent, some Madrid fans have joined in during the Super League drama more out of solidarity with the club’s stance than long-term resentment.
TLDR;
Barca fans boo the Champions League anthem because of a UEFA fine in 2015 related to Catalan independence flags.
Since then, it’s become a symbolic protest against what they see as unfair treatment by UEFA and a defense of Catalan identity.
▸ Source: FC Barcelona’s website
