MADRID: Barcelona are joining a strike to protest against the Spanish government’s actions in Catalonia’s independence vote.

Also, outspoken defender Gerard Pique was jeered by spectators at Spain’s training camp in Madrid on Monday.

Barcelona said none of its professional or youth teams will practice on Tuesday, and the club headquarters will be closed as a reaction to government attempts to stop the referendum on Sunday. Officials said more than 890 civilians and some 430 members of the police force were injured.

Girona also suspended practice on Tuesday, and Espanyol, the other Catalan club in the La Liga, will have its players undergo physical activities behind closed doors at its training camp.

Pique, who supported the referendum, was booed constantly as Spain practiced. He endured chants, sometimes laced with expletives, of “Spain is your nation”. Some held cards against him, including one that read “Out Pique.” Policed deemed one of the cards too offensive and removed it.

Pique is often jeered by fans when Spain plays outside of Catalonia.

He was in tears on Sunday after the La Liga game against Las Palmas as he talked about confrontations between Catalan voters and police, who used batons and fired rubber bullets to try and stop voters across the northeastern region. He criticised police again on Monday on Twitter.

Pique said after on Sunday that if the national team considered him a nuisance, he would have no problem stepping aside.

“I am very proud of Catalonia and all its people,” an emotional Pique told reporters as tears welled up in his eyes.

“Despite how much they are incited, and despite how much they [the Spanish authorities and security forces] want them to fall into the trap, they have demonstrated peacefully and sung loud and clear.”

Spain coach Julen Lopetegui has previously defended Pique when the player’s loyalty to Spain has been questioned.

“The behaviour of Gerard has been exceptional,” Lopetegui told Spanish radio station Cadena COPE.

“I wanted to see how he was and I saw he was motivated and enthusiastic. He’s well and fired up, if it were not like that he wouldn’t be with me.”

However Lopetegui defended the decision to hold the training session in public, adding: “It would have been an error to train behind closed doors. The fans have the right to express themselves.

“I know the situation is unpleasant, but I ask people for a little reason and sanity.”

Spain are preparing for World Cup qualifiers, the next on Friday against Albania in the southeastern city of Alicante.

Barca tried to postpone their home match on Sunday during the referendum but La Liga denied their request, so they closed Camp Nou to spectators to send a protest message and avoid losing points and being sanctioned. They beat Las Palmas 3-0.

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu said the decision to play behind closed doors was one of the hardest he had to make at the club. He consulted club officials, coaches and players.

“We knew that an empty Camp Nou would send a powerful message,” he said in a news conference on Monday. “Everybody would be asking about what was happening in Catalonia. The game was broadcast around the world. It was an extraordinary measure for an extraordinary moment.”

Many club members didn’t want the team to play at all on Sunday, but then it would forfeit the three points from the match and risk losing more points from a sanction.

Bartomeu said an empty stadium was the best way to show the club was not pleased with the incidents in Catalonia.

“The news of the suspension would last only one minute,” Bartomeu said. “In the end, what we did lasted for 90 minutes. “This is why Barcelona is more than a club.”

Bartomeu avoided talking about Barca’s future in La Liga if Catalonia declares independence. The league has already said it may no longer be able to accommodate Barca.

The majority of voters called for the region’s independence, but Spain doesn’t recognise the referendum as legit.

One of the main symbols of Catalonia, Barca have openly backed the region’s rights to hold the referendum.

Barca’s employees on Monday held a 15-minute strike to condemn the violence used by authorities.

Espanyol said they will respect its employees’ decision on whether to strike, while Girona said the entire club will be closed.

“The club condemns the violent and repressive actions carried out Sunday in Catalonia and shows its support and solidarity with the country’s citizens and institutions,” Girona said in a statement.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2017