Who are the ‘socios’ in Barcelona and Real Madrid and how can you become one?
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Barca fans at their home stadium Camp Nou
The Spanish football giants, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona are without a doubt, two of the most successful clubs in football history. The most important part of the two clubs is that they are owned by the fans. The football heritage of these clubs is kept safe as the fans of the club have the right to vote in favor of their club.
Socios is referred to the fans that have been active members of the club for a long time. They are life-long serving football fans who have spent their entire lives supporting a single club. Often called the unique owners of a club, Socios is the heartbeat of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
There is a special section of fans called the “socios” who technically own a certain part of the club and also possess voting rights that help them contribute to major decisions in the club’s administration. The socios also get numerous advantages of being a member of the club.
For example, discounts on Barca services like E-commerce, access to Barca+ TV, and free printing on shirt purchases. All of this can be redeemed by taking the premium subscription of the Culer premium. Barca has around 143,000 registered socios as of 2022.
What rights do FC Barcelona and Real Madrid socios have?
Along with having the opportunity to see your favorite club play every week, Real Madrid and Barcelona socios have various other privileges that come in handy. The fans play a big role in the administration of the club. Socios also take part in the presidential and board elections held every few years in both clubs.
It is because of these fans that no third party can come in to take over these clubs. The democratic environment present in the club is existing because of the Socio fans. It is their passion and love for the club that has helped the Spanish football clubs preserve their history from the oil-money organizations.
The current presidents of both clubs, Fiorentino Perez and Joan Laporta were both elected by the fans of the respective clubs. The fans of Real Madrid have complete ownership of the Los Blancos for ages now. The club is reportedly run by over 90,000+ socios.
Similarly, Real Madrid’s fans, often called Madridistas have been involved in all the decisions made throughout its entire history via the club’s general assemblies. The club has specific membership programs for lifelong fans who have spent their entire lives devoted to the prestigious club.
How can one become a socio?
Both the Spanish giants have made it quite easy for their fans around the globe to become a socio in 2022. Sandro Rossell from FC Barcelona proposed a 3-year waiting period system which has not been removed. The fans can register themselves as a socio by filling an online form provided on the official Barca website.
One can also register themselves by going to Camp Nou and applying on the site. All it takes is a passport/ID and a bank account number to get started. The annual fee of this membership is around 195 euros per year.
One can become a Real Madrid member by paying around 149 euros per year. This fee given by the fans is contributed to the running of the club. All you need is an ID and bank account number to open a membership account.
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FS Desk
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