Clasico postponed: Barcelona and Real Madrid propose December 18 for new date

Proposal: Barcelona have ear-marked the penultimate round of fixtures for the Clasico

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Ben Hayward18 October 2019

Barcelona and Real Madrid have both proposed December 18 as the new date for the first Clasico of the season following its postponement.

Spain's Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed on Friday that the game, which was scheduled to take place on October 26, will be moved to a different date due to unrest and political tension in Barcelona after the sentencing of nine separatist leaders on Monday.

Barca reacted to that news with a statement on their website in which they said they had rejected the proposal of switching the game to the Santiago Bernabeu and added that they would have been happy to go ahead as planned next Saturday.

"On Thursday, the Club informed the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) Competition Committee of its decision to say no to playing the game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, as proposed by the Spanish Football League (LFP)," it said.

"The Club’s desire was to play the Clásico at Camp Nou on the 26th, the date and time previously agreed and the Committee was informed of this in writing. The Club has the utmost confidence in the civic and pacific attitude of its members and fans who always express themselves in exemplary fashion at Camp Nou."

After the decision by the RFEF to postpone the fixture, Barca say they would now like the game played on December 18 and have also apologised to their fans who have already organised travel for the original date.

"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 18 December," they said.

"The Club regrets the inconvenience that this postponement may cause to members, supporters’ club members and fans and it has now begun the necessary steps to refund money from Monday 21 October for tickets already purchased."

Real Madrid added: "In light of the [RFEF's] Competition Committee ruling which postpones the match scheduled to be played on Saturday 26th of October between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, and states the clubs must agree a new date for the fixture, Real Madrid wishes to communicate that the date proposed by both said clubs is the 18th of December."