Riots in Barcelona with nearly 100 detained and El Clásico under surveillance

On Saturday night, the riots in central Barcelona left nearly 100 detained. El Clásico on Sunday at Spotify Camp Nou is already classified as high risk.

According to goal.com, Plaça de Catalunya and its surroundings experienced clashes between groups of youths and the Catalan police on Saturday night. According to the agency Reuters, the police detained nearly 100 people, including 27 minors, following a gathering called on social media that ended in vandalism.

The Minister of Interior of the Government of Catalonia, Núria Parlon, reported that there were more than 30 locations where fires were set and 14 commercial establishments that suffered vandalism or looting. Businesses in the area closed their shutters for fear of further incidents.

During the night, bins and urban furniture were set on fire, barricades were erected, and stones and blunt objects were thrown at the officers. The police urged residents and visitors to stay away from Plaça de Catalunya for their safety.

The calls circulated through internet groups, mimicking a student protest movement in France, according to La Vanguardia and RTVE. None of the reports directly link these incidents to the match between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

El Clásico, corresponding to the tenth matchday of LaLiga, is played this Sunday at Spotify Camp Nou. Its security was already a concern before the riots: the Permanent Committee of the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport classified it as a high-risk match on October 14, ten days before the violence.

According to the newspapers As and Mundo Deportivo, this classification seeks to reinforce measures before, during, and after the match. A special deployment is expected around the stadium and in areas where fans gather.

The closest precedent is from October 2019, when LaLiga postponed the Barcelona-Real Madrid match scheduled at Camp Nou following protests against prison sentences for several independence leaders. In an official statement, the competition explained that it acted due to the security situation and information about possible non-peaceful groups.

At that time, LaLiga proposed swapping stadiums to play in Madrid, but both clubs rejected the proposal. The Spanish Federation then set the match for December 18, 2019, with a large security operation.

For now, no official announcement confirms the postponement or cancellation of this Sunday’s match. Those with tickets should follow LaLiga and Barcelona's channels for any last-minute changes.