FC Barcelona could leave La Liga but club will analyse situation 'calmly', says president

AFP/Getty Images
Vaishali Bhardwaj3 October 2017

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed the club will "calmly" discuss whether to leave La Liga if Catalonia gains independence from Spain.

Barca beat Las Palmas 3-0 in a behind-closed doors game on Sunday after the club had their request for the match to be postponed turned down by the Spanish football league.

The appeal came as about 850 people were injured in clashes with police during the Catalan independence referendum, which the Spanish government had declared illegal.

The incidents over the weekend has resulted in a general strike being held in the region, which Barcelona have said they will take part in.

The club released a statement in which they confirmed their intentions of closing on Tuesday, with the first team not training and no tours of the Camp Nou being conducted as part of the national strike.

And speaking about Barca's future in La Liga, president Bartomeu admitted that any decision to potentially leave the top-flight would be taken following the independence decision.

"The situation concerning Barcelona's future in La Liga does not exist so far," he told reporters.

"But, with regards to what can happen in the future, the Board of Directors will discuss options.

"Following any independence vote, we would then analyse the situation calmly.

"If we discuss the subject intensely then obviously we will find the best solution. But if this [independence] happens, the board of directors will see."

Watch the video above to hear Bartomeu's thoughts on Barcelona and La Liga.

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