Barcelona

Fan Culture

Passionately Loyal and Deeply Rooted in Identity

Barça’s fan culture has culminated from years of history, pride, and love for the football club.

The team is rooted with a rich sense of identity that has originated from political, social, and

geographical influences – all things that have supported the team today and granted it its’ large

and heavily supported identity. Fans are called Culés in Spanish, which translates to the

“Bleacher Bums” referring to the original Barça fans who would be seen by their backsides at the

original Barça grounds at Carrer Indústria in the early 1900s. This phrase represents the original

Barça fans and illustrates Barça’s fan culture during the inception of the team, and how it has

carried forth today to support one of the largest and most successful football clubs in the world.

Today, thousands of blogs, magazines, websites, social media pages, tv shows, etc. are dedicated

to supporting the team and covering its rich history alongside its current progression, success,

and domination of the sport.

Barça’s anthem, the “Cant del Barça is sung before every match, and represents one of the most

iconic songs in soccer. Visca el Barça is another popular chant which showcases pride and

support, sung by Barça fans all over the world.

Much of Barça’s fan culture and identity is rooted in its Catalan ties in history and support for

Catalan independence. In founding the football club, Hans Gamper embedded these Catalan

values into the club’s identity, resulting in political messages and support throughout the

foundation of the team. The club’s current badge represents the four stripes of the Senyera: the

Catalan flag on its coat of arms. Josep Suñol i Garriga, former president, used the motto “Sport

and Citizenship” to advocate for Catalan nationalism, where he rooted the club in it’s political

ties at a time of large political instability. The Catalan identity remains an integral part of the

club, and is manifested through slogans alongside the current badge today.

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