Supporters of FC Barcelona

The arrival of Ronaldinho in 2003, and Barcelona's subsequent success in La Liga and Champions League, has been seen as crucial to an increase in the national, and worldwide, fan-base of the club.

There are four different type of supporters of Barcelona; one is the soci or club-member, who is eligible to vote in the presidential election of the club and other matters.

The penyes, who are closely affiliated with the socis, are fan-clubs, which in the past have been responsible for large donations to the club.

[3] In 1975, the death of Franco marked the beginning of Spain's transition into a democracy and four years later, Josep Lluís Núñez became the first elected president of FC Barcelona.

[7][8] In the presidential election of 2010, the rise in club-members during the last seven years caused the campaign to focus on whether to allow votes from non-Catalan members, through internet or post.

The club still had female fans, among them Edelmira Calvetó, who wanted to become a soci; having been turned down several times, she persisted, being granted the membership number 86 on 1 January 1913.

Inspiration was drawn from the financial plan Athletic Bilbao, a rival team, used to build San Mamés stadium, where an association of penyes pledged to finance the construction.

At the same time, the city of Barcelona experienced a rise in the number of skinheads, who identified with right-wing separatism.

The skinheads slowly moved the Boixos Nois' political ideology from liberalism to fascism, which caused fractions within the group.

[19] According to the protest organisation L'Elephant Blau (English: The Blue Elephant), formed in part by later-president Joan Laporta in 1998, the former president Núñez promoted the emergence of skinheads among the Boixos and gave them permission to roam freely around the stadium, using them for his own political gain.

Gaspart publicly expressed his sympathies for Boixos Nois, claiming that he would join the group as soon as he resigned as chairman.

[15] The club has had many prominent people among its supporters, including Pope John Paul II, who was an honorary member, and former prime minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.