Barça cancel Morocco friendly amid Ceuta migration crisis | OneFootball

Barcelona have cancelled a 15 August friendly in Tangier, citing uncertainty amid the migration crisis in the nearby Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

They had been due to face Ittihad Riadhi de Tanger, but the Catalan club have ruled out travelling, saying conditions are not in place for the game. According to Spanish authorities, about 70,000 migrants have already returned to Morocco and nearly 80 people, including the young player Faten Ben Amar El Azizi of Maghreb Atlético Tetuan, have died trying to reach Ceuta, mainly by drowning in the Mediterranean.

Tangier sits on the Strait of Gibraltar, roughly 50 km from Ceuta. An unusual influx in late July triggered a major social and diplomatic stand-off between Spain and Morocco.

Barça opened pre-season with a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City, then 3-2 on penalties. They face Nottingham Forrest and Udinese in Italy on Saturday.

They then host Al Ahly in the Gamper Trophy on Wednesday 19 August. As reigning Spanish champions, Hansi Flick’s side start their Liga campaign four days later with a trip to Elche on Sunday 23 August at 21:30.

Source: L'Équipe

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