La Liga asks for Nou Camp Clasico to be moved to Madrid

The Spanish football league, La Liga, said Wednesday it had asked the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)to move the next ‘El Clasico’ between Real Madrid and Barcelona to Madrid following violent protests by separatists in Catalonia.

According to Spanish media reports, Catalan grassroots separatist groups and political parties are preparing a demonstration in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, at 1:00pm on October 26, the day the La Liga clash is scheduled to take place at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium.

The football federation (RFEF) confirmed it had received the request and said the two clubs had until Monday to submit their opinions before it makes its decision.

Protests have erupted across Catalonia after Spain’s Supreme Court on Monday issued heavy prison sentences of between nine and 13 years to Catalan separatist leaders convicted of sedition over the 2017 referendum and short-lived declaration of independence.