La Liga Proposes Venue Change For El Clasico
La Liga authorities have petitioned the Royal Spanish Football Federation(RFEF) to move next week’s El Clasico from the Camp Nou to the Santiago Bernabeu as a result of political tension in the city of Barcelona.
Tensions are high in Barcelona after nine Catalonia leaders were jailed on Monday for masterminding an alleged illegal referendum in 2017.
There are fears that the unrest in Barcelona, which is the capital for Catalonia, could prolong for some time raising security fears over next week’s much anticipated game.
Already there have been clashes between police and protestors, while pro-independence politicians have scheduled a rally on October 26- the day for the Clasico- to air their grievances.
51 arrests have been made as a result of the clashes and 125 people have been treated for various degrees of injuries.
"We have requested the competitions committee of the RFEF to meet and change the location of El Clasico to Madrid because of exceptional circumstances beyond our control," a La Liga spokesman said.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will be contacted by the competitions committee to decide whether a conclusion on the venue can be reached.
Barcelona have released a statement indicating their displeasure at the events unfolding in the city.
"Prison is not the solution," a statement from the Spanish champions read.
"Now more than ever, the club asks all political leaders to lead a process of dialogue and negotiation to resolve this conflict, which should also allow for the release of convicted civic and political leaders.
"FC Barcelona also expresses all its support and solidarity to the families of those who are deprived of their freedom."
