Real Madrid Reportedly to Stop Barcelona Fans Bringing Esteladas to El Clasico

Real Madrid are to ban Barcelona fans from bringing estelada flags to the Santiago Bernabeu for Saturday’s El Clasico showdown.

The starred and striped flag, synonymous with those striving for Catalonian independence from Spain, is dotted all around the city of Barcelona and has been waved frequently at the Camp Nou on matchdays. 

However, according to Jose Felix Diaz of Marca, Los Blancos will prevent any esteladas being emblazoned at the Santiago Bernabeu as they do not want to see the venue exploited “for political means.” Diaz wrote that Real have “no intention of allowing the club to be linked with any kind of political protest.”

CESAR MANSO/Getty Images

The independence debate is a hot topic in Spanish politics at the moment. Recently, the Catalan government confirmed it would be continuing with plans to push ahead for a secession, despite opposition from those in Madrid. A poll conducted in November 2014 of two million people showed that 80 per cent of those in the region backed a split from Spain, per BBC Sport.

Barcelona’s fans regularly make their own feelings known on the matter on matchdays, chanting for "independencia" after 17 minutes and 14 seconds of each game; Catalonia lost its independence in the year 1714:

The displays from fans have got the club into trouble previously, having been fined on three occasions for “similar infractions” by UEFA, per Diaz. Barcelona have appealed to UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport in each case and are awaiting responses.

On the field, Barcelona head to the home of their bitterest rivals three points clear at the summit of La Liga. A win for Real would see them retake top spot in the division, but ominously for the hosts, the Blaugrana’s talisman Lionel Messi began training again this week after being sidelined since late September, per BBC Sport.