Spain To Deploy 3,000 Security Personnel For El Clasico

Spain will deploy 3,000 security personnel for Wednesday’s El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The La Liga game, which was originally meant to take place at Barcelona’s home ground, Camp Nou, was postponed in October, due to tension in Spain’s north-east region as a result of demonstrations and riots.

The riots had stemmed from the arrest of politicians from Catalans, over their role in the agitation for independence of the area from Spain.

Democratic Tsunami, a protest group advocating another independence referendum for Catalonia, has publicly urged its supporters to gather at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium four hours before kick-off.

Renewed fears of unrest have raised the possibility of the match being postponed for a second time.

“It will be played, the Clasico will be played,” Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said last Thursday, a pledge repeated in recent days by sports, political and police authorities in Spain.

Meetings have taken place between the police, clubs and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), to ensure the safe arrival of the two squads and referees, as well as the almost 100,000 fans expected to attend.

The numbers of private security staff in the stand will also be increased to reduce the threat of pitch invasions that could interrupt the game.