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Espanyol to appeal two game stadium closure for pitch invasion vs. Barcelona

The Catalan club have confirmed that they will exhaust all appeal avenues with the ‘Periquitos’ set to play games against Racing and Amorebieta with no fans present.

Invasión de campo de los seguidores del Espanyol cuando los jugadores del Barcelona celebraban el campeonato liguero.
Gorka LeizaDIARIO AS

It’s official, Espanyol have been hit with a two game stadium closure following incidents on 14 May, as fans stormed the pitch just as the FC Barcelona squad celebrated winning the league title forcing the players to take refuge from the incensed home fans.

The Competition Committee have proposed the closure of the stadium during two games and with Espanyol’s relegation, this would see the Periquitos face Racing Santander (20 August) and Amorebieta (3 September) at empty ground although Espanyol state that they plan to launch an appeal.

Espanyol fans react to Barcelona's victory invading the pitch
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Espanyol fans react to Barcelona's victory invading the pitch LLUIS GENEAFP

RCD Espanyol has decided to appeal against the RFEF Competition Committee’s sanction proposal that would mean the closure of the Stage Front Stadium for two matches as a result of the events that occurred at the end of the last Barcelona derby on 14th May 2023.

RCD Espanyol has always spoken out against any violent act or behaviour that could tarnish the image of the entity and our fans. In this sense, our Club has always faced its responsibilities by acting in an exemplary and proactive manner when situations have occurred that violated the values of the Club and the sport. In addition, in the case at hand and as the security forces themselves have recognised, RCD Espanyol had all the means and measures necessary for a match like the one in question last May, collaborating from minute one with everything required by the authorities and with the security forces themselves.

The events occurred upon the final whistle of the Espanyol-Barcelona derby game, some 200 individuals decided to take to the pitch while the Barça players celebrated on the pitch. The FC Barcelona delegation were previously warned by local police (Mossos d’Esquadra) not to celebrate the title win on the field of play.