CATALAN POLICE have confirmed that next week’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid will go ahead as planned despite security fears.
The match was initially due to happen on October 26 but was rescheduled because of fears over Catalan independence protestors.
Around 3,000 armed police officers will oversee safety at the matchCredit: Rex Features
But current Minister of the Interior for Catalonia Miquel Buch has sought to reassure everyone that the match will be safe – despite being given a four out of five terrorist alert.
Buch, however, felt that the first match didn’t even need to be postponed, and that everything will be fine when it is eventually played on Wednesday.
He said: “There was no need to postpone the game.
“We would have guaranteed that match the same as December 18. The decision was not police, but of La Liga and we do not share it. It was a wrong decision.”
He then went on to say: “The Mossos [Police] will guarantee the match and its celebration, the access of followers, such as the internal and external security of the field.
“As always, they will guarantee the celebration of this Barça-Madrid.
“We have a device prepared for public order. As we have always been in contact with the two clubs, especially with FC Barcelona, because it is who hosts the game ”
And Police Chief Commissioner Eduard Sallent said: “We will make the Clasico play normally. We will cover both the displacement of the teams and the referees, as well as the entry and exit of the public.”
It is expected that 3,000 armed police officers will be on duty to ensure the match goes ahead without a hitch.
It has been feared that protest group Tsunami Democratic could disrupt the match, but they have rebuffed these worries on their Twitter account.
Translated to English, they posted: “Hello, press in Madrid!
“Seeing that you are inventing words that Tsunami has never said, it is reported that: 1. The Tsunami has not said that it wants to block or suspend the match.
“On the contrary, we want to invite everyone to see it. And that it will be followed all over the world.
“Tsunami Democratic, as promised, is ready to make visible the exceptional situation that Catalonia is suffering in the field and in the stands.
“That is why we need #LaForceDeLaGent [The People’s bellows]. Much! More than 25,000 people have already confirmed through our channels and tens of buses have been organised. #SpainSitAndTalk”.
Tsunami Democratic’s aim is to make the sentence, “Sit and talk”, as visible as possible at the match.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are currently both locked on 34 points from 15 La Liga matches, with the Catalans narrowly ahead of their rivals on goal difference.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
