Football, politics set to collide in famed 'El Clasico'

Football, politics set to collide in famed 'El Clasico'

Police, security forces on high alert for Barcelona vs. Real Madrid match, as massive pro-independence protests are planned

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Catalan separatist protestors are planning to take center stage in Wednesday night’s football match in Barcelona, which will see bitter rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid face off.

The match was originally scheduled for Oct. 26 but was postponed due to political tension in the region after several separatist politicians and leaders were sentenced to prison.

After the sentencing, millions of Catalan separatists took to the streets over several days and nights of disruptive protests. Over 200 people were arrested and around 600 were injured as protestors built bonfires around city centers and clashed with police. The protests have since died down, with some exceptions.

Tsunami Democratic, the independence group behind the most controversial protests this fall, tweeted on Wednesday morning: “Hello, World! Tonight Tsunami has a message for you.”

The group aims to use the popularity of the match, knowns as el clasico in Spanish, to get its message of Catalan independence out to a global audience. They have called for protestors to congregate outside the Camp Nou football stadium before the game and throw black inflatable balls on the field, which could disrupt the match.

Around 3,500 police officers and private security staff will be deployed at the match, according to Spanish daily El Pais.

“A certain climate has been created around this game but we are not alarmed… We just want to organize it well so we invite people to enjoy the game and come to express themselves with respect and pacifism in Camp Nou, which is a space of freedom,” Josep Vives, FC Barcelona spokesperson, told a Tuesday press conference.

Fans should plan to be at the stadium an hour-and-a-half early to get through “exhaustive” security checks, he added.

FC Barcelona has been supportive of Catalan separatist protestors in the past. In October, it condemned the Spanish Supreme Court’s sentencing of the separatist leaders, calling in a statement for their release from prison.

Adding to the tension is the fact that the teams from Barcelona and Madrid are tied for first place in Spain’s La Liga, giving this game the potential to become one of the most classic clasicos in years.

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