Far from being a formality or a simple documentary accreditation, these certifications represent a strong endorsement of the Club’s commitment to legality, transparency and ethics. The audit process included interviews, verification of evidence, review of protocols and a detailed evaluation of the actual operation of the system. The result: a double certification that recognizes Barça as a benchmark in regulatory compliance within the sporting and institutional field.
Beyond compliance: a living and effective system
UNE and ISO certifications are not easy labels to obtain. Developed by technical committees of experts, they require a cross-cutting and effective implementation of all internal control mechanisms. In this sense, AENOR has certified that the FC Barcelona Compliance system not only exists, but is fully integrated into the Club’s day-to-day operations, with direct leadership from the Board of Directors and active participation from all areas.
The Barça model places special emphasis on three priority areas: the prevention of criminal offences, the prevention of money laundering and the protection of children. The latter area has even received explicit recognition from the United Nations, for its courageous and committed approach to the well-being of minors.
A shared and anticipated structure
Although the law does not oblige the Club to adopt explicit measures to prevent money laundering until 2029, it has been decided to anticipate and begin to apply certain controls. Likewise, the Club’s subsidiaries (such as BLM, Barça Studios or Barça Innovation Hub) and the Foundation are adherents to the same system, guaranteeing global coherence in institutional action.
On the other hand, the Compliance system is not limited to creating protocols: it trains, accompanies, provides tools and establishes a living regulatory framework. The Ethics Channel, continuous training, internal controls and periodic risk assessment allow any incident to be detected and managed with rigor, transparency and traceability.
Everyone’s commitment
Certification is not the merit of a department, but the result of a shared commitment. All staff —from managers to casual workers, professional athletes and external collaborators— have received specific training and are familiar with the system. This massive and adapted deployment reinforces the culture of compliance as the central axis of the Club’s operations.
As the Compliance Department points out, “‘integrity is not limited to compliance: we must detect, isolate and proactively manage any risk, because trust is a living asset of the Club, built by everyone every day”. With this spirit, Barça is advancing in its commitment to a more solid, responsible and exemplary institution, not only on the pitch, but also off it.
