FC Barcelona is set to officially announce a major sponsorship deal with U.S. ride-sharing giant Uber, naming the company as the club’s official mobility partner. However, the move has triggered intense backlash from Barcelona’s powerful taxi community, led by the Elite Taxi union, which has declared a “total strike” across the metropolitan area on the day of Barca’s Champions League clash with Olympiacos.
The union plans to stage a mass protest beginning at 5 p.m., with roadblocks around the Estadi Olímpic in Montjuïc and the club’s offices on Travessera de les Corts. Taxi drivers will mobilize in large numbers from Avenida Maria Cristina, surrounding both key locations. Additional pickets will be stationed at El Prat Airport and Sants Station, potentially paralyzing city transport.
In a scathing statement, Elite Taxi condemned the agreement, calling it “an alliance with the criminals at Uber” and accusing the club of betraying its historical values:
“Barça was born from community and collective spirit — a moral refuge for Catalans. It’s hard to understand how the same club now partners with a corporation like Uber, built on deregulation, exploitation, and greed.”
The group argued that Uber’s practices undermine essential public services and exploit workers, contrasting that with the taxi sector’s service during crises like the Las Ramblas attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The deal with Uber adds to a growing portfolio of partnerships under President Joan Laporta, including major agreements with Spotify, Midea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, all designed to boost Barcelona’s financial recovery.
Uber’s role as the club’s new mobility partner will reportedly be unveiled at a high-profile signing ceremony featuring club executive Manel del Rio, Uber Iberia’s Felipe Fernández Aramburu, and young defender Pau Cubarsí — part of Uber’s push to strengthen its local image.
However, taxi drivers view the deal as a deep betrayal of Barca’s working-class roots and civic identity. While the partnership may inject much-needed funds into the club, it also risks escalating long-standing tensions in Barcelona over Uber’s controversial operations.
With thousands of taxis expected to join the strike and police preparing for potential gridlock, the upcoming Champions League match could be overshadowed by widespread disruption.
As of now, FC Barcelona has not issued an official response to the backlash. The unfolding controversy highlights a growing rift between the club’s commercial ambitions and its traditional social values — reigniting debate over what it truly means to be “more than a club.”
