The possible installation of natural grass at the Narcís Sala so that UE Sant Andreu can play in Primera Federació has reached the municipal plenary session of the Barcelona City Council, in a debate marked by deadlines and by the demands of the Spanish Football Federation.
The federative regulations oblige the teams of this category to play their matches on natural grass fields. At this moment there is a two-month moratorium to adapt the stadiums, although on the table is the intention to suppress that margin, a scenario that would complicate even more the situation of the Andreuenc club.
The City Council admits difficulties due to calendar and for technical reasons
The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has defended that the city council has economic capacity to face the installation, but has warned that the problem is not only budgetary. The City Council has resources to execute the work, although the calendar and technical conditions make an immediate solution unfeasible.
"We need time, we need the moratorium from the Spanish Football Federation, it is a fundamental step, because without this moratorium Sant Andreu will not be able to start the season at Narcís Sala, putting grass or without putting it" - Jaume Collboni, mayor of Barcelona
Collboni has insisted that the works cannot be resolved in a few weeks. The mayor has specified that the installation of the natural grass would extend beyond September, just when the season starts, which would leave Sant Andreu without the option of starting the competition in its stadium if that adaptation period is not maintained.
"The natural grass installation works are delayed much beyond September, which is when the season starts" - Jaume Collboni, mayor of Barcelona
The moratorium becomes the key piece
The debate now focuses on that time frame. The mayor has stressed that the moratorium is a basic element for Sant Andreu to be able to continue at Narcís Sala at the start of the season. If that deadline disappears, the club would not be able to start the season in its field, regardless of whether the installation project gets activated.
Collboni has also cooled any expectation of an immediate exit. He has recalled that the decision does not depend exclusively on the City Council and that there is no margin to offer an express response.
"Now then, of magical solutions from today for tomorrow for things that do not only depend on the City Council we cannot give them" - Jaume Collboni, mayor of Barcelona
The recent precedent of Europa
The city has a close case in this same category. After its promotion to Primera Federació, Europa used a six-month moratorium at Nou Sardenya and ended up moving to Can Dragó in January to be able to play on a natural grass field. That precedent reflects to what extent the adaptation deadlines are decisive for the Barcelona clubs that reach the category.
With this scenario, the continuity of Sant Andreu in the Narcís Sala at the start of next season remains linked to the Federation's decision on the moratorium and to some works that, for now, would not arrive in time for September.