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La Liga

Oct 1, 2017 at 3.15pm UK

Barcelona
3-0
Las Palmas Las Palmas

Busquets (49'), Messi (70', 77')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Barcelona players 'divided by decision to play Las Palmas match'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 02 October 2017

A report claims that a fierce debate broke out in the Barcelona dressing room ahead of their La Liga clash against Las Palmas following the decision to play the match.

Barcelona's players were reportedly split over the club's decision to play against Las Palmas on Sunday afternoon at a deserted Camp Nou.

The La Liga clash fell on the same day as the Catalan independence referendum, which led to violence across the region as the local government attempted to block the controversial vote.

More than 750 people were left injured on a day of unrest, but Barca agreed to go ahead with the match as they risked being docked six points if postponing it until a later date.

According to Mundo Deportivo, however, the Barcelona dressing room was divided and a fierce debate broke out in the minutes leading up to kickoff.

Most players are said to have been happy with the decision to play the game, which the hosts went on to win 3-0, although others felt that the risk of a points penalty would have been worth it.

Gerard Pique, pictured casting his vote earlier in the day, described the 90 minutes as the "worst experience" of his professional career.