In a shocking development just hours after the release of tickets for FC Barcelona’s 2025–26 La Liga home opener at Spotify Camp Nou, the club has issued an urgent statement addressing a disturbing incident that has disrupted access to tickets and raised serious concerns about security and fairness.The official ticket release, which began at 10:00 a.m. CET, was expected to attract tens of thousands of fans eager to witness the club’s long-awaited return to their renovated stadium. However, reports of malfunctions, canceled purchases, unauthorized resales, and possible hacking activity began to surface within the first hour.
FC Barcelona’s Official Statement
In a press release issued at 2:30 p.m., the club stated:
“FC Barcelona deeply regrets to inform fans that due to a significant technical breach affecting third-party ticketing systems, many valid transactions were disrupted or invalidated. We are currently investigating a potential coordinated cyberattack aimed at exploiting our ticketing platform. Immediate actions have been taken to halt sales and protect supporter data.”
The club also confirmed that cybersecurity experts have been brought in to work alongside LaLiga’s technology partners and local authorities.
Fans Report Mass Cancellations and Price Surges
Frustrated fans took to social media to share experiences of legitimate purchases being reversed without explanation, and tickets being relisted within minutes at more than triple the face value on resale platforms.
One Barcelona supporter wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“I bought 4 tickets for the home opener. Got a confirmation. One hour later: canceled. Now I see my same seats online for €500 each. This is a disgrace.”
Others reported being locked out of the site altogether or redirected to external pages that mimicked the official platform — a possible sign of a phishing or spoofing scheme.
Scalping Networks and Bots Suspected
Though the investigation is ongoing, early analysis suggests that automated bots may have been used to bypass security measures and scoop up tickets in bulk before ordinary fans could access them. Barcelona officials believe that some of the attack may have originated from outside the EU.
“There is credible evidence of an organized attempt to undermine the integrity of ticket distribution,” said a club spokesperson during a brief press conference.
Immediate Measures Taken
As a precaution, the club has:
-
Suspended all ticket sales for upcoming home matches until further notice.
-
Disabled all digital ticket transfers temporarily.
-
Begun a full audit of affected transactions.
-
Established a dedicated helpline and online form for affected fans to file claims.
Barcelona’s IT and legal departments are working closely with Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police) and international cybercrime units to trace the origin of the breach.
What Fans Should Do Now
FC Barcelona urges all fans to:
-
Avoid purchasing tickets from non-official sellers or websites.
-
Monitor bank activity if payment info was entered during the disrupted period.
-
Use only the official FC Barcelona ticket portal for future purchases.
-
Report any suspicious emails or websites mimicking the club’s branding.
Looking Ahead
Club President Joan Laporta reassured fans:
“We are taking this matter extremely seriously. The trust of our members and supporters is not negotiable. We will restore order, strengthen our systems, and ensure that this never happens again.”
With the season just weeks away and anticipation at an all-time high following new signings and a return to Camp Nou, the timing of this disruption couldn’t be worse.
Leave a Reply