This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
The Spanish Football Federation has rescheduled the highly anticipated El Classico match between Barcelona and Real Madrid due to ongoing unrest in Barcelona.
The match, initially set for the weekend of October 27, has been moved to December 18, giving both teams time to rack up points before the crucial game.
Barcelona are currently leading the log with 19 points, one above Real Madrid, who faltered at the hands of Mallorca during the weekend.
The new date was confirmed on October 23, 2019, after a statement from the Spanish Football Federation read: 'The Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation has agreed today to set for December 18 the date of Barcelona vs Real Madrid.'
The decision took into consideration proposals from both rival clubs, as well as the potential impact on other fixtures and the global significance of the game.
La Liga had initially proposed the game be played on December 4, but this would have clashed with other fixtures and potentially diminished the game's global appeal.
As reported earlier, the unrest in Barcelona was sparked by the jailing of nine Catalan political leaders, leading to a wave of protests in the city.
Players such as Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic were caught up in the drama, and the Spanish Football Federation has taken a dig at La Liga for their initial proposal.
