The Barcelona riots reopen the debate on postponing the Clásico

The riots on Saturday in central Barcelona, with nearly 100 detained, have once again raised concerns about the safety of the Barcelona and Real Madrid match this Sunday. So far, there has been no official announcement of a postponement.

Nearly 100 people were detained on the night of Saturday in central Barcelona, after a gathering called on social media ended in vandalism. According to the Interior Minister of the Generalitat, Núria Parlon, fires were set in over 30 locations and 14 establishments suffered damage or looting.

This is reported by goal.com in its coverage of the match, which takes place this Sunday afternoon at the Spotify Camp Nou for the tenth round of LaLiga. The match comes amid concerns about safety in the city.

The disturbances occurred in Plaza de Cataluña and its surroundings, where groups of young people clashed with the Mossos d'Esquadra. There were burning containers, barricades, and stones thrown at the officers, and local businesses closed their shutters. The police urged residents and visitors to stay away from the area for their safety.

The match was already on the authorities' radar before the night of 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 incidents, so this decision cannot be attributed to Saturday's events. According to the newspapers As and Mundo Deportivo, the measure aims to reinforce security before, during, and after the match, with a special deployment around the stadium and fan gathering areas.

The closest precedent is from October 2019, when La Liga postponed the match scheduled at Camp Nou following protests after prison sentences against several independence leaders. La Liga then proposed to play it in Madrid, but both clubs rejected the change, and the Spanish Federation set the match for December 18, 2019, with extensive security measures.

So far, no postponement or cancellation has been announced due to the events in the city centre. For residents and fans heading to Camp Nou, it is expected that there will be increased controls and access restrictions around the stadium, so it is advisable to check official channels before leaving home.