Gerard Pique threatens to retire from Spain's national team if anyone deems his support for Catalonian independence disruptive. Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu clarifies the club's decision to play Las Palmas behind closed doors. ESPN FC's Barcelona correspondent Samuel Marsden checks in from the Camp Nou after the club decided to play behind closed doors amid political tension in Catalonia. A Lionel Messi double led the way as Barcelona cruised past Las Palmas behind closed doors at the Camp Nou. A Lionel Messi double led the way as Barcelona cruised past Las Palmas behind closed doors at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona club staff observed a work stoppage on Monday, a day after a violent crackdown by Spanish police trying to block referendum voting in Catalonia.
The club are observing international break this week, but said via statement on Monday that none of the teams would train as part of the "standstill."
"FC Barcelona joins the country wide strike called for by Table for Democracy and therefore the Club will be closed tomorrow," the club said.
"None of the professional teams or the youth teams at FC Barcelona will train tomorrow at the Ciutat Esportiva."
Barcelona do not play again until travelling to face Atletico Madrid on Oct. 14, after the international break.
FC Barcelona joins the country wide strike called for by Table for Democracy and therefore the Club will be closed tomorrow.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 2, 2017
Amid Sunday's voting, Barcelona's La Liga game against Las Palmas went ahead but was played behind closed doors after there were calls for it to be postponed because of the political climate.
An emotional Gerard Pique said there were "pros and cons" for playing the game, and said that it was possible that he could quit playing for Spain before next summer's World Cup finals.
Catalan officials say an overwhelming majority of voters supported independence from Spain, but the central government in Madrid has repeatedly condemned the referendum as illegal, unconstitutional and invalid.
Club officials held an emergency meeting on Monday and were expected to release a statement.
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Source: espn.co.uk