The decision was eventually made to play Barcelona vs. Las Palmas in an empty stadium.
Given the violent scenes taking place across Catalonia on Sunday, Barcelona’s board requested that their league meeting with Las Palmas be postponed for the safety of supporters.
More than 300 people have been injured on Sunday, when the Catalan independence referendum took place, as police officers fired rubber bullets at voters attempting to cast their ballots in the poll which had been declared illegal by Spain’s constitutional court.
Breaking news this afternoon https://t.co/kcHG4kILCW
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 1, 2017
But, despite the unrest outside the stadium, La Liga ordered that Barcelona vs. Las Palmas would have to go ahead or the hosts would be deducted six points.
The game took place behind closed doors, with Barcelona picking up a 3-0 victory, but there was an unusual pitch invasion towards the end of the match.
With no fans allowed in the ground, it bears asking how this supporter managed to make it inside the Camp Nou, let alone rush the pitch itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=llMwlRXQcUA
Stewards quickly intercepted the pitch invader, who waved a white piece of paper prior to being taken down.
Somehow there's a pitch invader, despite there being no fans. Waving a white piece of paper
— Rik Sharma (@riksharma_) October 1, 2017
Prior to the arrival of the official decision to play the game behind closed doors, Barca supporter group Grada de Animacion claimed that they would interrupt the match if it went ahead although they have not taken responsibility for the above pitch invader.
“In the face of the outrageous repression that the Catalan people are suffering, we ask FC Barcelona to suspend the game,” a statement said ahead of kick-off, via Marca.
“In case it does not, we will head to the Camp Nou and run onto the pitch in the first minute and make a peaceful sit-in to protest the violence we are suffering.
“We need the world to see it, and then we will continue to defend polling stations and democracy.”
