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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Lottie Gibbons

Why do Barcelona fans boo the Champions League anthem before kick-off?

Liverpool aim to turnaround their Champions League future as they face Barcelona in the second leg of the semi-finals.

Last week, Liverpool suffered a major blow against the Catalan side after Luis Suarez  netted the opener against his former club before half time.

And after a further two goals from Lionel Messi , Liverpool finished 3-0 down.

Ahead of tonight's second leg at Anfield, viewers and spectators may hear Barcelona fans booing the Champions League anthem.

Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. celebrate after the 6-1 goal scored by their team mate Sergi Roberto during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou on March 08, 2017 (Photo by Vladimir Rys Photography/Getty Images)

Written by English composer Tony Britten, the piece of music is instantly recognisable to all fans across Europe.

And whilst most supporters enjoy the anthem, Barcelona fans feel quite the opposite - which is why you may hear booing throughout it.

Champions League TV highlights - how to watch Liverpool v Barcelona and which channel  

Why?

In 2015, Barcelona were fined £21,000 after showing their support for Catalan independence by showing the Estelada flag at the Champions League final in Berlin.

They were fined £28,000 for a second time in the 2015/16 season for a repeat offence.

UEFA made the decision citing article 16 (2) (e) of the regulations, which prohibits "the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature".

And after UEFA altered its disciplinary regulations to say European clubs would no longer be liable for “the disruption of national or competition anthems”, Barcelona supporters have booed the Champions League anthem.

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