The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed the postponement of the Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid due to concerns over political instability in Catalunya.
Tensions in the region have been inflamed by a controversial court decision jailing several leading members of the Catalan independence movement for their role in organising a referendum on the subject in 2017.
As of Thursday, the streets of Barcelona and surrounding areas had been hit by four consecutive days of violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
And a massive rally is planned for the city of Barcelona on October 26 – the same day that the Blaugrana were scheduled to host their arch-rivals at Camp Nou.
Several options were considered by the RFEF amid fears conditions would be unsuitable for the showpiece game, including the possibility of changing the venue to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu home.
Both sides, however, dismissed that notion in notes sent to Spanish football’s governing body, which instead has opted to delay the match with both clubs and La Liga expected to agree on a new date for the game by next Monday.
