Barcelona has canceled their scheduled friendly match in Morocco due to the ongoing border crisis in Ceuta. The Spanish champions were set to face local side Ittihad Riadi Tanger on August 15 as part of their preseason preparations.
“In light of the current uncertainty and circumstances, FC Barcelona considers it inappropriate to proceed with the match,” the Catalan club stated.
Although the club did not specify the exact reason for the cancellation, BBC Sport reports that the decision is linked to the situation in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave bordering Morocco on the North African coast. Last week, approximately 78,000 migrants crossed into Spain from Morocco by sea, resulting in 100 fatalities and heightening tensions between EU countries with open borders.
Looking ahead, Barcelona is scheduled to face Nottingham Forest in Udine, Italy, on Saturday, followed by a home game against Egyptian side Al-Ahly on August 19.
Hansi Flick’s team will begin their La Liga title defense with a match against Elche on August 23.
Related Stories
