Football: El Clasico postponed amid security issues

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) - Spanish football's highly-anticipated "El Clasico" match between Barcelona and Real Madrid was postponed on Friday over security concerns in Barcelona, according to the country's football association.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on its website that the El Clasico was delayed amid violent Catalan protests in Barcelona.

The highly-anticipated La Liga showdown was scheduled to be held in Barcelona's home ground, Nou Camp Stadium, on Oct. 26. The RFEF will determine the new date if the two clubs fail to come to a decision by Monday.

Spain's top-tier football division, La Liga had previously requested the Spanish Football Federation the El Clasico to be reversed to Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium over the security concerns in Barcelona.

There have been ongoing violent clashes between the police and Catalan pro-independence demonstrators following the imprisonment of nine Catalan separatist leaders on Monday.

Protesters in Catalonia are angered by Monday’s Supreme Court ruling that sentenced nine separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for their role in the illegal independence referendum and the following declaration of independence in 2017.