Barca, Real agree new date after Clasico postponed due to protests

Madrid: Barcelona and Real Madrid appear set to agree Dec.18 as the date for a rearranged Clasico after Spain’s biggest football match was postponed on Friday due to protests in Catalonia.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced that Barca and Madrid have until 10:00am (0800 GMT) on Monday to find a new date, which will be decided by the RFEF if they cannot reach an agreement.

But according to the RFEF, Real Madrid have already approved Dec.18, meaning the fixture looks set to move to that date, pending official confirmation.

In a statement on Friday, Barcelona proposed the new date but also stressed their desire for the original fixture, scheduled for Oct.26 at Camp Nou, to go ahead.

“The club’s desire was to play the Clasico at Camp Nou on the 26th, the date and time previously agreed and the Committee was informed of this in writing,” read Friday’s statement.

“The club has the utmost confidence in the peaceful behaviour of its members and fans who always express themselves in exemplary fashion at Camp Nou.

“Nevertheless, having received the decision of the RFEF Competition Committee to postpone the game citing ‘exceptional circumstances’ and given that it falls to the clubs to agree a new date for the game before Monday, the club will propose Dec.18.”

Barcelona added the club “regrets the inconvenience” caused to fans and will refund those that had bought tickets for the original fixture.

In a press conference on Friday, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said: “We will do as we are told. I know there is a lot of debate but that’s our position. I have my own preferences but I’m not going to tell you them.”

The Clasico was set to be Barcelona’s first home game since nine pro-independence leaders were sentenced to imprisonment on Monday for their role in the illegal referendum over Catalan independence in 2017.

The ruling has sparked violent demonstrations across the city.

Agence France-Presse