16 Dec, 2019 @ 09:05
1 min read

EL CLASICO: 3,000 troops to police Spain’s most important football fixture as HUGE Catalan protests planned for Camp Nou

Barca Madrid

WEDNESDAY’S El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona will be policed by 3,000 troops to ensure that Spanish-Catalan tensions don’t boil over, it has been announced.

Around 1,000 officers from Catalunya’s regional police force Mossos will join the club’s own security on the streets outside Camp Nou.

READ MORE:

It comes as campaign group Tsunami has organised several protests inside and outside the ground for Spanish football’s most anticipated match of the season.

There will be two ‘phases’ of security at the match in Barcelona on November 18 at 9pm.

Airport Barcelona
LOCKDOWN: Barcelona’s El Prat airport was one of several areas taken over by Catalan separatists in October, with football bosses worried of a repeat at Wednesday’s El Clasico

Phase one will be a ‘non-armed’ police cordon, which will provide access to the 99,000- capacity stadium.

The second phase will see pitchside security teams inside Camp Nou keeping fans separate and preventing them from entering the field of play.

Additionally, there will be a ‘greater intensity’ of checks for fans entering the ground.

Those travelling to the game are also advised to take the Metro or make the journey on foot, as car parking could be made more difficult due to increased security.

SUPPORT: Catalunyan Manchester City boss says Spain ‘needs to sit and talk’

Meanwhile, Tsunami has been warned by police to stay away from the ground, despite its action planned nearby.

The group’s activists are set to protest at the following spots around Camp Nou: Calle Aristides Maillol con avenida Joan XXIII, Avenida Joan XXII con la calle Menendez y Pelayo, la Travessera de les Corts con Aristides Maillol and Travessera de les Corts con Elisabeth Eidenbenz.

However a Tsunami spokesperson insisted that the group does not want the game ‘blocked’ or ‘suspended’.

Fears of civil unrest caused the fixture, which was due to be played in October, to be rescheduled for this week.

It came after Spain jailed nine Catalan separatist leaders over their role in Cataluyna’s illegal independence referendum of 2017.

rain in spain
Previous Story

BROLLIES OUT: Week of rain coming to Spain’s Costa del Sol and inland Andalucia starting TOMORROW as Aemet issues weather warnings

Best Online Casino 2018
Next Story

What Makes Online Casinos so Popular?

Latest from Barcelona

Go toTop

More From The Olive Press

WATCH: Major fire tears through popular water park on Spain’s Costa del Sol – ahead of planned renovations

A DRAMATIC fire today caused serious damage at a popular

Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital among the best-reputed hospitals in Spain

ONCE again Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital has been ranked among the