How Barcelona and Spanish football could be affected

La Liga giants Barcelona are in the middle of a chaotic Catalonia referendum which was marred by extreme police violence on Sunday, October 1.

Deemed illegal by Madrid and unconstitutional by Spain's Constitutional Court, riot police with orders from the country’s capital descended on the polling units of the Catalonia's independence referendum.

Armed with rubber bullets, the riot police attacked voters, injuring at least 92 people with about 844 needing medical attention.

Already, the incident has thrown Barcelona into turmoil as they had to play Las Palmas in a La Liga game on Sunday behind closed doors at Nou Camp.

La Liga turned down Barcelona’s appeal to postpone the game and fearing a potential six-point penalty, Barcelona chose to play behind closed doors in protest of the attacks on Catalonia citizens.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu also confirmed on Monday that two of the club's board members resigned over disagreements on the decision to play the game behind closed doors.

ALSO READ: Barcelona backing Catalan independence referendum

Following the attacks by riot police, series of protest have swept across Catalonia while a section of Barcelona fan groups had threatened a peaceful pitch invasion during the game.

The Catalonia referendum has triggered Spain’s worst political crisis in decades and is set to also be more topsy-turvy for football.

Spanish football already divided

Barcelona defender region voted in the referendum earlier on Sunday before the spate of violence at the pooling units.

After the 3-0 win over Las Palmas on Sunday, an emotional Pique cried during post-match interviews, over  the fate of the Catalonia people who were attacked by Spanish police.

“I am very proud of Catalonia and all its people," Pique told reporters after the game.

"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."

Pique was on Monday, October 2 jeered and taunted by over 1, 500 Spanish supporters at an open training session with the Spanish national team.

Despite playing a huge role in Spain’s 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012 wins, the defender is hated by a host of Spanish fans because of his vocal support of Catalonia’s referendum on Independence.

Chants like ‘Pique b*****d Spain is your nation' and banners which had 'Pique out' were directed towards him.

The relationship between the Barcelona defender and Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos has also reportedly completely melt down.

According to Daily Mail, Pique’s attitude and recent statements have brought a divide to the Spanish National Team.

Although Pique has made it clear that he will retire from international football after the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the 30-year-old defender has revealed that he is ready to quit if his political stance is deemed problematic to the team.

Real Madrid fans showed their support for Spain at the Bernabéu on Sunday when Real Madrid played Espanyol -another club from Catalonia.

Real Madrid's fans brought Spain flag and sang songs in support of the country.

Catalonia National Team

Almost all footballers from the Catalonia region are in support of the call for independence. Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta are all huge advocates of the Catalonia Referendum.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is also in support.

Former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola who is the manager at Manchester City was very angry on Sunday. "I wouldn't have played," Guardiola told Catalan radio station Rac1 in reference to the closed door game at Nou Camp.

"If in the end, you play this game, you do it with the public and all the consequences."

Guardiola has been a staunch supporter of a Catalonia Independence and played for the Catalonia National Team when they beat Nigeria 5-0 in December 1998.

Although not affiliated with either FIFA or UEFA, the Catalonia National Team have existed since 1904 and have played almost 200 games against different countries, regional teams and clubs.

Barcelona to the Premier League

A successful Catalonia referendum could see Barcelona play in a new league in another country. There have been talks of the 24-time Champions of Spain playing in the Premier League.

"Barcelona and Espanyol would not play in the Spanish League if Catalonia becomes independent for the following reason: the Sports Act has an additional provision that only one non-Spanish state can play in La Liga or official Spanish competitions, and that is Andorra," Liga del Futbol Profesional (LFP) president Javier Tebas told Spanish radio station in 2014.

Catalonia's sports minister Gerard Figueras had also said Barcelona would be free to join a new league. Espanyol are likely to move to the French Ligue 1 or German Bundesliga if Catalonia secede from Spain.