Real Madrid are to ban Barcelona fans from bringing estelada flags to the Santiago Bernabeu for Saturday’s El Clasico showdown.
The starred and striped flag, synonymous with those striving for Catalonian independence from Spain, is dotted all around the city of Barcelona and has been waved frequently at the Camp Nou on matchdays.
However, according to Jose Felix Diaz of Marca, Los Blancos will prevent any esteladas being emblazoned at the Santiago Bernabeu as they do not want to see the venue exploited “for political means.” Diaz wrote that Real have “no intention of allowing the club to be linked with any kind of political protest.