Barcelona Could Have To Play Behind Closed Doors For Anti Spain Chants

Barcelona might be flying at the top of La Liga right now but there's a chance that they'll be playing in front of an empty stadium if their fans misbehave, that's according to La Liga president Javier Tebas.

It was expected that Barcelona would struggle in the league this season. Having lost Neymar and with Real Madrid's dominance not looking like ending anytime soon there were big questions for Ernesto Valverde's side.

However they have been in brilliant form and are already eight points ahead of Real and Lionel Messi looks in unstoppable form right now. All of this has been done as tension mounts between Catalonia and Spain over independence.

_{Messi has scored 12 goals in 11 games in the league this season. Image: PA Images}

An 'illegal' referendum was held in Catalonia on October 1st and voters were met with violence by Spanish police trying to stop it. That led to Barcelona playing their game against Las Palmas that day behind closed doors.

In a press conference La Liga president Javier Tebas revealed that any anti Spain chanting from Barca fans would contravene league rules and see the Camp Nou be empty for future matches as a punishment:

"[Offensive] chants such as 'Puta Espana', 'Puta Catalunya', 'Puta Andalusia' or similar have been reported before.

"If the Competition Committee decide that there is cause for punishment and if the Administrative Court back up that it is a punishable insult then there are various potential punishments and the Camp Nou could even end up being closed."

_{Spanish police result to brute force to prevent citizens voting. Image: PA Images.}

_{Barca versus Las Palmas in the weirdly empty Camp Nou. Image: Barcelona}

Tebas has been getting involved quite a bit with Barcelona this week after he 'revealed' that Messi has signed a new deal at the Camp Nou even though nothing official has come from the club.

He defended himself by saying, "I haven't heard Barcelona saying no. I said what I said, I think this is true and there is nothing else to say. I don't care, I know Messi is going to play in La Liga next season and there is nothing more to it."

Soon the Argentine could be showing off in front of no one.

Topics: Barcelona, Spain, La Liga, Camp Nou

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

@Sidler28