Espanyol ultras plan shocking act against Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia | OneFootball

Tensions are running extremely high ahead of the latest Catalan derby, with disturbing reports emerging about how Joan Garcia could be targeted by sections of the Espanyol fanbase. 

According to an update shared by RMC Sport, Espanyol ultras are planning a deeply controversial protest linked to the goalkeeper’s move to Barcelona.

Garcia, who joined Barcelona from Espanyol last summer, is expected to receive an openly hostile reception when he returns to face his former club. 

What’s the story?

The backlash began even before the transfer was made official. In early June, insulting messages and graffiti appeared in his hometown of Sallent and even after seven months, emotions have clearly not cooled. 

The situation has raised fears of a hostile atmosphere similar to one of the darkest moments in Spanish football history, when Luis Figo returned to Camp Nou wearing a Real Madrid shirt in 2000 and was targeted with a pig’s head thrown onto the pitch.

According to the report, some Espanyol ultras are now planning to take things even further by attempting to throw rats onto the field. 

Joan Garcia will return to Espanyol today. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The report includes a disturbing detail that highlights how far these plans may have gone. Citing a source from Barcelona, the outlet states, 

“More than a month ago, in a food market in central Barcelona, a vendor revealed that fans had asked him for advice on how to obtain rats.”

Measures from Espanyol

Aware of the potential risks, Espanyol have been working closely with the Spanish police for weeks to prepare security measures for the match at RCDE Stadium. 

The club has issued clear warnings to supporters, reminding them that any serious incident could result in heavy sanctions, including fines or the partial or total closure of stands.

As part of these measures, several items will be banned from entering the stadium. 

The report adds an important clarification regarding what will and will not be allowed inside the ground, stating, “banknotes printed with the face of the goalkeeper, ideas circulating online, will not be prohibited.”

All eyes will now be on how the evening unfolds and whether preventive measures are enough to avoid an incident that could overshadow the match itself.