Barcelona cancels pre-season friendly in Tangier over Ceuta migration crisis

Club decision

FC Barcelona announced on Thursday 6 August that it had cancelled a pre-season friendly scheduled for 15 August against IR Tangier in Morocco. The club issued a statement saying that, given the current context of uncertainty, the circumstances were not suitable for the match to take place. The fixture had been contracted and announced locally, and Barcelona had sent emissaries to Tangier to assess the situation before opting to suspend the commitment. El Periodico reported the match could have earned the club 4.5 million euros.

Ceuta migration crisis

The cancellation stems from a migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located roughly 50 kilometres from Tangier. Ouest France reported that 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta illegally over a few days in late July, with Spanish authorities saying 70,000 of them returned to Morocco. The New York Times reported that Ceuta's leader, Juan Jesus Vivas, told the European Parliament on Thursday that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in the territory. Vivas expressed his "profound sorrow" over what he called an "irreparable tragedy" of 100 deaths that occurred as thousands crossed by sea.

“Given the current climate of uncertainty, FC Barcelona considers that, at this time, the circumstances are not suitable for this match to take place.”

Sources diverge on the death toll. Ouest France reported around 80 people died, primarily from drownings in the Mediterranean, while Vivas cited 100 deaths in his address to the European Parliament. The mass arrivals overwhelmed Ceuta's services and generated significant social and political tension.

Second pre-season disruption

The Tangier cancellation is the second disruption to Barcelona's pre-season. The La Liga champions were due to face England's second-tier side Preston North End behind closed doors on 3 August during their training camp, but the Championship club called off the match. The Athletic reported Barcelona sources said Preston did not have enough first-team players available and did not want to take risks. Barcelona instead held an internal match between two squads from their own roster, which ended 1-1 with goals from Fermin Lopez and Xavi Espart.

Remaining pre-season schedule

Barcelona's next fixture is a triangular tournament in Udine, Italy, on Saturday 8 August against Udinese and Nottingham Forest. The Trofeo Joan Gamper follows on 19 August against Egypt's Al Ahly. Barcelona begin their La Liga title defence away at Elche on 23 August, with their first home league match scheduled for 27 August against Athletic.