Despite everything seeming to indicate that today's La Liga match between Barça and Las Palmas would be cancelled, the Catalan team asked its leadership to be allowed to play. The directing staff reacted by saying the match would be played, but behind closed doors.
"Barça condemns the actions carried out today in many places all around Catalonia to prevent the exercising of the democratic right and the free expression of its citizens", said the club in the statement announcing their decision.
Bartomeu and his staff found themselves caught between the wishes of the fans and those of the players. The first didn't want a match to take precedence on a day when it should be in the background and some even threatened Barça that they might invade the pitch. "Today isn't a day for playing. In the case that FC Barcelona doesn't suspend the match, we will do it ourselves jumping onto the stadium's grass in minute 1" said local fans' organisation Grada d'Animació. On the other hand, the players felt that a political decision shouldn't influence their sporting performance.
It should be noted that Las Palmas has announced they will play the match wearing special shirts, embroidered with a Spanish flag as a criticism of "a consultation which nobody has called them to". "We believe in the unity of Spain", said the visiting team in a statement.