Catalonia Derby Threatened to be Played Without Fans

Espanyol faces the risk of playing the highly anticipated derby against Barcelona on May 15 without fan attendance, due to violent incidents that occurred during their last match against Real Betis in La Liga.

According to the match referee's report, the game was halted in the 92nd minute after Betis scored a goal, as Espanyol fans threw three lighters onto the field, prompting the activation of security protocols and warnings through loudspeakers before play resumed.

The danger lies in the fact that Espanyol had previously received a warning for closure due to a similar incident in a match against Villarreal last September, when a fan threw a cup that hit the referee,

and although the penalty at that time was limited to a financial fine, the Spanish Federation warned that a repeat of the incident would lead to the stadium's closure.

If a closure decision is issued, Espanyol will face the upcoming match against Barcelona without their fans, which would be a significant morale blow for the team that relies on the support of its supporters, especially in such an important match.