Barcelona cancel friendly in Morocco following Ceuta border crisis
Spanish champions Barcelona have called off a pre-season friendly in Morocco due to the ongoing border situation in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Diliff
Barcelona have cancelled a scheduled pre-season friendly in Morocco due to the ongoing border crisis in Ceuta. The Spanish champions were set to face local side Ittihad Riadi Tangier on August 15 as part of their preparations for the upcoming campaign.
In an official statement, the club remarked that, in light of current uncertainty and circumstances, playing the match would be considered inappropriate. While the club did not explicitly name the cause, the decision is linked to the situation in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave bordering Morocco on the North African coast.
The region has faced significant tension following a large influx of migrants crossing into the Spanish territory last week, which has subsequently sparked diplomatic debate among EU nations regarding open borders and regional security.
This is not the first disruption to the club's summer schedule, as a planned friendly against Preston North End was also previously called off. Hansi Flick's side is currently preparing for a match against Nottingham Forest in Udine and a home fixture against Egypt's Al Ahly on August 19. The team is set to begin their La Liga title defence against Elche on August 23.