Chinese fans of FC Barcelona have wanted to express their solidarity and gratitude to the club, and through different video messages sent their messages of support to fans around the world who have been affected by the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. They have sought to respond to Barça's support for the Chinese people through the 'Stronger Together' campaign, launched in February when the pandemic was making its way through the Asian country. An action that took place at the Camp Nou, before the LaLiga match against Getafe, involved players from both teams and children from the Dracs Units Xinesos penya.
On February 15, Barça issued a message of both solidarity and against the stigmatisation and discrimination that the Chinese population suffered after the virus appeared. Before the game against Getafe, a canvas was displayed in the centre circle with the Stronger Together motto, while players from both teams took to the pitch accompanied by children from the penya wearing a T-shirt, with both 'Stronger Together' and '中国 加' ("Be strong, China"). The action was also complemented by the sending of these shirts to Chinese fans from different collectives; now those fans have responded by sending their support through Chinese social channels.
Blaugrana fans from different groups
Now that China is beginning to show positive signs of stabilisation and containment of the virus, Barça fans there have been able to express their encouragement to the population most affected by the pandemic outbreak. Among them, medical staff who have fought Wuhan's coronavirus on the frontline, along with journalists, influencers, supporters and players from the Barça Academy. Medical professionals such as Zhong Yang or Chen Canayo thank the Barça family for encouraging the Chinese population and express their desire that "both players and fans around the world keep clear from the virus." Fu Sigi, who worked to fight the emergency in Wuhan, states that "together we will overcome this situation," and Wuhan resident Zhang Yue says that "despite this distance, I hope this video is capable of transmitting courage and strength."
The children and staff at the Barça Academy located in China also wanted to express their support with a chant of 'Força Barça', while the players in the Qingdao Academy, the oldest FC Barcelona school in Asia -closed since January due to the coronavirus- sent their wishes of hope through their drawings, encouraging people to stay home to fight the spread of the pandemic.
