JOIN USBarcelona star Gerard Pique’s tears of sadness and the vast empty stands as his team reluctantly played were two of the defining images of a violence-scarred independence referendum in Catalonia.
Pique had been able to cast his vote in an independence referendum deemed illegal by Madrid without obstruction on Sunday morning.
“I am very proud of Catalonia and all its people,” an emotional Pique told reporters as tears welled up in his eyes after a routine 3-0 win over Las Palmas.
Barca to join strike
Barcelona will join a strike on Tuesday in protest at a violent crackdown by police of an independence referendum.
“FC Barcelona joins the country wide strike called for by Table for Democracy and therefore the club will be closed tomorrow,” Barca said.
“Today the board of directors has accepted the resignations of vice-president Carles Vilarrubi and the commissioner of the Barca Innovation Hub, Jordi Mones,” Presdient Josep Maria Bartomeu added.