Catalan police eject Al-Ahly fans after clashes at Camp Nou
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Trouble flared in the stands of the Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday during Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Egypt’s Al-Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy, as Catalan police and private security ejected dozens of visiting fans after clashes with home supporters.
The incidents unfolded in the Gol Nord section, where Al-Ahly fans had mixed among the crowd.
Kicking off behind the goal here. Seemed strange to put the Al Ahly fans there mixed in more or less with the Barcelona supporters pic.twitter.com/wd0oTbR7sB
— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) August 19, 2026
According to Catalan newspaper Sport, the visitors unfurled banners—one reportedly marking the 20th anniversary of Ultras Ahlawy and commemorating the 74 fans killed in the 2012 Port Said tragedy—prompting objects (including cups) to be thrown from higher tiers and physical confrontations to break out.
Police used batons in the process of removing the group, with footage circulating of officers striking and pushing fans as they were escorted out.
El Periódico described the atmosphere turning sour once the banner appeared:
Some eyewitness accounts on social media claimed Barcelona fans initiated the throwing of objects after the banners went up, with a portion of the Egyptian supporters responding in kind before security intervened.
The match itself, the first Joan Gamper Trophy at the renovated Spotify Camp Nou since 2022 and attended by more than 54,000 spectators, saw former Al-Ahly forward Hamza Abdelkarim open the scoring for Barcelona in the 30th minute against his old club.
Raphinha added a penalty just before half-time, and Al-Ahly’s Ahmed Sayed Zizo pulled one back early in the second half. Anthony Gordon later missed a late penalty for the hosts.
Videos of the stand disturbances quickly spread online, showing the Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalonia’s security agency) and stadium stewards forcibly clearing the area.
Barcelona closed their pre-season with the win and the traditional Gamper presentation of new arrivals, including a warm reception for midfielder Rodri.
The stand incidents, however, cast a shadow over what was otherwise intended as a festive return to the renovated stadium ahead of the new La Liga campaign.
No official statements from the clubs or Catalan authorities on further disciplinary measures had been issued by late Wednesday.
