Barcelona FC To Join Strike In Catalonia

Barcelona, Espanyol and Girona, all Catalan teams in Spain’s top flight La Liga, say they would join the one-day strike.

Barcelona FC will join a general strike called in Catalonia on Tuesday, the club confirmed at a news conference at the Camp Nou on Monday.

“What we saw in the country yesterday is unacceptable. Us Catalans have earned the right to be heard. Tomorrow we will join the strike,” said club president Josep Bartomeu.

Espanyol and Girona, the other Catalan teams in Spain’s top flight, also said they would join the one-day strike.

“It was a difficult day for everyone in Catalonia,” continued Bartomeu when asked about the reasons for playing Barcelona’s La Liga match with Las Palmas in an empty stadium.

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“We were unable to get the game postponed so we decided to play it behind closed doors.

“We made that decision because it was a way of showing the world what was happening.”

Many were upset the game was played, and Bartomeu confirmed: “Today I have accepted the resignations of directors Carles Vilarrubi y Jordi Mones. They both opposed the decision to let the game go ahead.’’

Bartomeu added: “In the name of the club, we want to show solidarity with those people who defended democracy and with those who were wounded.”

Catalan authorities said 893 people were injured in clashes between protesters and police trying to disrupt voting.

More than 40 Unions in Catalonia joined forces under the umbrella organization Table for Democracy and called for the general strike.

The club tweeted: “None of the professional teams or the youth teams at FC Barcelona will train tomorrow.”