Barcelona and Real Madrid have proposed December 18 as new date for El Clasico after the October 26 match was postponed, according to statement from both clubs.
The Barcelona will not host Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season at the Camp Nou on October 26 due to security fears amid the Catalan political crisis.
Instead, Barcelona will propose the date of Wednesday December 18, which is a favourable date for Real Madrid as well.
As part of a club statement, Barcelona have defended their fans and their exemplary behaviour at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid issued a statement of their own not long after Barcelona did, confirming that December 18 was the preferred new date for the sides.
“After the resolution of the Competition Committee of the Spanish Football Federation to postpone the game that was to be played on Saturday October 26 between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, and which establishes that the clubs agree on a new date for the event, Real Madrid announces that the date proposed by both clubs is December 18.”
“On Thursday the Barcelona informed the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) Competition Committee of its decision to say no to playing the game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, as proposed by the Spanish Football League (LFP),” the statement read.
“Barcelona’s desire was to play the Clasico at Camp Nou on the 26th, the date and time previously agreed and the Committee was informed of this in writing.
“The Barcelona has the utmost confidence in the civic and pacific attitude of its members and fans who always express themselves in exemplary fashion at Camp Nou,” Barcelona published on their official website.
“Nevertheless, having received the decision of the RFEF Competition Committee to postpone the game citing “exceptional circumstances” and given that it falls to the clubs to agree a new date for the game before Monday, the Club will propose 18 December.
“The Club regrets the inconvenience that this postponement may cause to members, supporters’ club members and fans and it has now begun the necessary steps to refund money from Monday 21 October for tickets already purchased,” it concluded.
But LaLiga is advocating that El Clasico be played on December 4th to protect the economic interests of the other clubs. With the initial October 26 date postponed due to the current political unrest in Catalonia and therefore fears over security, the two teams agreed that December 18 would be their preferred rendezvous.
However, LaLiga feel that the teams competing in the Copa del Rey on December 18 would suffer from a loss of TV money as El Clasico would take centre stage. According to LaLiga sources, a December 4 meeting would “would defend the interests of the professional clubs, whose TV rights are commercialised collectively, and not just two of them” in reference to Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Anthony Nlebem
