Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Proud Pique a lightning rod in Catalonia chaos

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Madrid: Barcelona 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, an outspoken defender of the wealthy northeastern Spanish region’s right to self-determination, had been able to cast his vote in an independence referendum deemed illegal by Madrid without obstruction on Sunday morning.


Others were not so lucky as police fired rubber bullets and forced their way into activist-held polling stations to confiscate ballots, in many cases by violently removing activists.


Clashes left at least 92 people confirmed injured out of a total of 844 who needed medical attention, according to Catalan authorities.


“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 in an empty Camp Nou on an otherwise extraordinary day.


“Despite how much they are incited, and despite how much they (the Spanish authorities and security forces) want them to fall into the trap, they have demonstrated peacefully and sung loud and clear.”


Amid scenes of chaos and confusion outside Barca’s 99,000-capacity stadium, fans were left waiting for hours before a final decision to play behind closed doors was made less than half an hour before kick-off.


“I wouldn’t have played,” Barcelona’s most successful ever coach and current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola told Catalan radio station Rac1.


“If in the end you play this game, you do it with the public and all the consequences.”


Pique described the match, played in near-silence, as the “worst professional experience” of his career. Barca had appealed to La Liga to postpone the game. However, when the football and security authorities refused to do so. — AFP


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