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Barcelona fans face stadium ban over political chants

Barcelona's 3-0 win over Las Palmas in October was played behind closed doors following unrest during the controversial independence referendum.

By Josey Samuel
Lionel Messi

Terrassa (Barcelona), November 22: La Liga officials have threatened to ban Barcelona Football Club fans from entering the stadium for domestic games if the political chants continue at Camp Nou.

Barcelona's 3-0 win over Las Palmas in October was played behind closed doors following unrest during the controversial independence referendum.

The club has largely stood by Catalonia's efforts to hold an independence vote but in recent weeks various political chants have been heard at the stadium.

And La Liga President Javier Tebas has said they would not hesitate to close the gates at Camp Nou during Barcelona's domestic matches.

"Offensive chants such as 'Puta Espana', 'Puta Catalunya', 'Puta Andalucia' and similar words have been reported regarding this," Tebas told reporters.

"Could the Camp Nou be closed as a punishment? Yes, absolutely. The procedure would be that the Competition Committee decides on a cause for punishment and if the Administrative Court concur with that then punishments could be handed out.

"Of course, stadium closure is not the only possibility but it's one of the most severe ones."

Tebas did add, however, that chants supporting independence that do not incite violence will not be punished.

Barcelona are flying high in La Liga right now, having benefitted in part from Real Madrid's disastrous start to the campaign.

Ernesto Valverde's side are unbeaten in 12 games, having won 11 and drawn one. They sit four points off second-place Valencia and 10 ahead of Real Madrid in third.

Lionel Messi and Co travel to Juventus on Wednesday for their Champions League tie in Group D, with a win enough for Barcelona to secure progression to the knockout stage as group winners.

Barca's next La Liga fixture is an away tie against second-placed Valencia on Sunday (November 26) and Catalan giants return to Camp Nou on November 29 for their Copa Del Rey match against Real Murcia.

Last season Sporting Gijon were ordered to close part of their El Molinon stadium for one game as a punishment for racist insults aimed at Athletic Bilbao winger Inaki Williams by a section of their supporter.

Story first published: Wednesday, November 22, 2017, 11:29 [IST]
Other articles published on Nov 22, 2017