El Clasico: Barcelona v Real Madrid Postponed
This month’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid has been postponed because of fears of civil unrest.
The first Clasico of the 2019-20 season was due to take place on October 26 2019, but political unrest in Spain has forced its postponement, causing a severe headache for the country’s football administrators because of security concerns.
El Clasico is one of the most highly anticipated fixtures on the football calendar, with the bitter rivalry drawing in millions of viewers worldwide.
Major tournaments aside, there is no bigger soccer match in Spain — and perhaps the world — than Barcelona v. Madrid.
Spain’s La Liga said “exceptional circumstances beyond our control” forced the postponement of the rivalry match scheduled for October 26.
Barcelona rejected La Liga’s idea of switching the game to the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and, despite the concerns, defended their supporters from the suggestion that they could potentially become violent.
The game between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be rescheduled for a date in December. Barcelona have requested that the game is played on December 18, 2019 and Real Madrid have agreed.
“In light of the ruling which postpones the match between Barcelona and Real Madrid and states the clubs must agree a new date, Real Madrid wishes to communicate that the date proposed by both clubs is December 18,” said Real’s statement.
La Liga are against the idea of staging the El Clasico fixture during midweek as it would likely harm viewing figures and have a knock-on effect to television rights holders.
A final resolution is expected, but will not be much comfort to supporters who had already bought tickets, and arranged travel and hotels for the original 26 October date.
The wealthy region of Catalonia has a complicated history with the rest of Spain, and F.C. Barcelona is entwined in that history. Catalonia has its own language and flag — a flag that’s featured in the club’s crest and is often displayed by fans at matches.
By Gerald Dandah
