No supporters "were able to watch Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Las Palmas on Sunday as the game was played behind closed doors," following clashes between police and voters in Catalonia over a "disputed independence referendum," according to Richard Martin of REUTERS. Spanish riot police "burst into polling stations across Catalonia, confiscating ballot boxes and voting papers to try to halt the banned referendum" on a split from Spain as Madrid "asserted its authority over the rebel region." Catalan officials said that 337 people "were injured in the crackdown." The clashes prompted Barcelona to announce the Las Palmas match would be played in front of an empty stadium. The club said in a statement, "FC Barcelona condemns the events which have taken place in many parts of Catalonia today in order to prevent its citizens exercising their democratic right to free expression. Given the exceptional nature of events, the Board of Directors have decided that the FC Barcelona first-team game against Las Palmas will be played behind closed doors following the Professional Football League’s refusal to postpone the game." Las Palmas had said earlier in the day that it would wear the Spanish flag on its jerseys "to support the unity of Spain." The game "was thrown into chaos when reports in the Spanish media said the club had postponed the game less than an hour before kick off." Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rules state that a game "can only be postponed if the police cannot guarantee the safety of spectators." If Barcelona had suspended the game without the consent of the RFEF, it would have "automatically lost the game 3-0 and had a further three points deducted." Barcelona supporters group Grada d‘Animacio, which organizes the "singing section" behind one of the goals at Camp Nou, "pledged to invade the pitch, if the game went ahead, in protest at the police crackdown." Former Barcelona captain Xavi Hernández "condemned the police action" in a video released on social media. He said, "What is happening in Catalonia today is shameful. It’s unacceptable that people are not allowed to vote in a democratic country. All my support goes to the people who are peacefully trying to exercise their right to vote. Long live Catalonia" (REUTERS, 10/1). In Madrid, Nadia Tronchoni reported Barcelona President Josep María Bartomeu said, "Before the exceptional situation that took place in Catalonia, we have tried to convince La Liga to delay the game. There would have been six points lost, three for not playing the game and three as a sanction. ... As it has been impossible, we have decided to play the game behind closed doors" (EL PAÍS, 10/1).
DIVIDED LOCKER ROOM: MARCA reported minutes before kickoff, "confusion and chaos reigned at the Camp Nou." Some Barcelona players "were unaware as to whether they had to play the game or not." Most "opted to leave the pitch" after a short warmup, but some, including Gerard Piqué, "remained on the pitch in defiance" (MARCA, 10/1). In London, Jordan Seward reported Piqué, who "somewhat controversially proclaimed his support for the upcoming referendum, insisted he always feels a great sense of pride" when playing for his national side. He said, "I have always said that to play for the national team is a pride and a great motivation. The fact that the coach has called me up again shows that I am doing things well" (DAILY MAIL, 9/30). In Madrid, Moisés Llorens reported Barcelona's Sergio Busquets said, "We were up to date on everything happening in the streets since early this morning. Not playing was considered. Not playing, on a sporting level, was going to affect us a lot and it was decided by the club to play behind closed doors. It was not pleasant to play like that" (AS, 10/1).
EXECS STEP DOWN: In Madrid, Juan Jiménez reported Barcelona VP Carles Vilarrubí "resigned on Sunday," and his resignation was followed by the announcement that Jordi Monés,
the head of the Barça Innovation Hub, "also resigned." Vilarrubí reportedly made the decision "because he disagreed with club playing the game." Bartomeu "did not confirm Vilarrubí's resignation." It "is expected that there will be more resignations" (
AS, 10/1).
BREAK-IN: EL CONFIDENCIAL reported a fan entered the pitch "with a poster featuring a symbol that has recently become famous and the word 'democracia.'" The man was wearing "a yellow shirt -- favorable to the independence of Catalonia, not Las Palmas -- and before he entered the field, he had been seen in the stands with the poster" (EL CONFIDENCIAL, 10/1).
