Barcelona Considering Cancellation of Friendly Against Ittihad Tanger

Barcelona's friendly match against Moroccan club Ittihad Tangier, scheduled for August 15 in Morocco, is at risk of cancellation due to political and social tensions linked to the immigration crisis in the city of Ceuta in recent days.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the arrival of thousands of people to Ceuta via swimming and borders has caused significant pressure on local services, alongside a state of political and social tension, prompting Barcelona to reassess the possibility of playing the match.

Barcelona has sent delegates to Tangier to assess the situation on the ground and study the suitability of hosting the match. Despite a contractual agreement and local announcements regarding the game, Barcelona has not yet made an official statement.

Barcelona was expected to face Ittihad Tanger as their first match with the full squad, following the return of the international players who won the World Cup. They are scheduled to rejoin the team on August 12, just three days before the match.

The newspaper reported that Barcelona's management had previously considered the positives and negatives of holding the match, as well as consulting with ministerial bodies regarding the situation, with the possibility of hosting the game if the crisis calms down in the coming days.

According to the report, Barcelona will receive €4.5 million for playing the match, making the final decision on whether to hold or cancel it also dependent on political and security developments in the coming period.

The match in Tangier is part of Barcelona's pre-season program for the new season, following their participation in a friendly tournament in Udine on August 8 against Udinese and Nottingham Forest. This will be before they face Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 19, and then kick off their La Liga campaign against Elche on August 23.