Barcelona on Catalan independence: It is a matter for each person

ABarcelona delegation headed by president Josep Maria Bartomeu attended a Catalan national day celebration but the club denied that they were backing any political movement.

As is tradition, floral offerings were made at the statue of Rafael Casanova for 'la Diada' and in the party from Barcelona were the players Alena and Samper.

"We are not involved in the manifestation that took place on Tuesday, it is an idividual matter, our position is to back freedom of expression and we hope that the conflict is sorted out through dialogue and not the courts," said vice president Jordi Cardoner.

There is a big Catalan nationalist movement in the region of Spain and an unofficial independence vote was held last year that led to the imprisonment of some of the leaders.