Barcelona vs. Las Palmas to be played behind closed doors amid vote unrest

Published on: 01 October 2017

Gab Marcotti explains the uncertain position Barcelona could find themselves in if Catalonia gains independence from Spain.

Barcelona's La Liga game against Las Palmas will go ahead but be played behind closed doors after there were calls for it to be suspended due to the political climate in Catalonia on Sunday.

There was tension across Catalonia throughout the morning as Spanish police attempted to shut down various polling stations as the region held a referendum, which had been deemed illegal by the Spanish government, on its independence.

That led to calls for Barca to postpone their game with Las Palmas due to fears that there would not be adequate policing for the match.

Added to that were statements from people associated with the club, such as former presidential candidate Agusti Benedito, telling president Josep Maria Bartomeu that the game could not go ahead in the current political climate.

Various reports throughout the day claimed that the game had been called off, but as kickoff drew closer there was uncertainty as to whether the game would take place or not.

The reports suggested that both La Liga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation had to refuse to call the game off, which left Baca facing a potential points punishment if they decided to suspend it on their own.

There had been doubts as to whether Barcelona's game with Las Palmas would take place.

The Catalan club would have faced a potential three-point deduction as well as forfeiting the game.

Las Palmas arrived at the Camp Nou and maintained that the game would take place.

Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez, meanwhile, was unable to say whether the game would be played when he arrived at the stadium an hour before the 4:15 p.m. CEST kickoff

Meanwhile, supporters were held at the Camp Nou gates, which were not opened on schedule.

Preparation for the game went on as planned, though, with the media allowed in, Las Palmas announcing their lineup and Barca goalkeepers Jasper Cillessen and Marc-Andre ter Stegen coming out to warm up.

Samuel Marsden covers Barcelona for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @SamuelMarsden.

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Source: espn.co.uk

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