Barcelona cancels friendly match in Morocco due to regional uncertainty
Barcelona has officially cancelled a friendly match that was scheduled to take place in Tangier, Morocco, on August 15. The decision comes amidst a complex situation following events in Ceuta, an autonomous city where a significant number of Moroccan citizens reportedly entered illegally. The club stated that due to the prevailing uncertainty and current circumstances, playing the match would be inappropriate.
The cancellation means Barcelona will forgo an estimated 4.5 million euros, which was the fee the club would have received for participating in the friendly. Despite the financial implications, the club prioritised the safety of its players and technical staff. According to sources from the organising party, the current conditions were deemed unsuitable for holding the match, considering the events observed in Ceuta during the preceding week.
Pre-season preparations affected
The cancellation adds to what has been described as a turbulent pre-season for Barcelona on an operational level. Earlier, another friendly match against Preston North End in England was called off because the opposing team reportedly did not have enough players. The planned fixture against IR Tangier was intended to be a significant part of the team’s preparations, especially as it would have marked the first summer match with the full squad available, including World Cup-winning internationals expected to return around August 12.
The club is now reviewing its pre-season schedule with German coach Hansi Flick to explore options for arranging another friendly. This is aimed at ensuring the team achieves the necessary readiness before the start of their La Liga campaign. The original friendly in Morocco had been contractually confirmed and locally announced, but the migration crisis in Ceuta led to its reassessment.
The situation in Ceuta involved the arrival of thousands of people crossing the border, which created considerable social and political tension in the region and overwhelmed local services. This forced Barcelona to evaluate the feasibility of travelling for the match. Representatives from the club were sent to Tangier to assess whether the game could proceed safely, but an official confirmation was withheld due to the ongoing uncertainty.
Impact on squad integration
Should the Tangier game not proceed, Flick’s pre-season schedule would appear rather limited. It would consist of only two full 90-minute friendlies, against Birmingham and Al-Ahly, following the earlier cancellation of the Preston match. Additionally, there were a couple of 45-minute outings planned against Udinese and Nottingham Forest in the Udine triangular tournament on August 8. This limited schedule is considered less than ideal, particularly for a team integrating new signings and welcoming back several players who had extended breaks after the World Cup.
Despite these challenges, the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al-Ahly on August 19 is still scheduled to serve as the traditional showpiece event before Barcelona commences their La Liga season against Elche on August 23.
The club’s board had reportedly weighed the pros and cons of playing the match and consulted ministerial authorities before making the final decision. The crisis in Ceuta, a territory with 84,000 inhabitants, saw 72,000 migrants arrive from July 30, according to official Spanish figures. The events included instances of individuals attempting to swim around a barrier in the Mediterranean Sea, with some unfortunately drowning.
These scenes reportedly caused shock in Spain and contributed to a disagreement with some other European Union countries that advocate for stricter immigration policies. While Madrid has not criticised Rabat regarding the mass arrivals, some commentators have suggested that the situation could be interpreted as a means for Morocco to exert pressure on Spain. Morocco does not acknowledge Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta or Melilla, another North African exclave, and has claimed both territories since gaining independence in 1956.
Some commentators have also proposed that the crisis served as a warning from Morocco to Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reportedly sought to improve ties with Algeria. Certain Spanish political parties, including Vox and Sumar, have called for Morocco to lose its right to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, though this demand is considered unlikely to succeed as FIFA makes the hosting decisions for the tournament.
Barcelona is scheduled to play Nottingham Forest, Udinese, and Al Ahly before beginning their La Liga title defence against Elche on August 23.
Source: goal.com
