US EditionEspanyol Ban Barcelona Symbols at Stadium as Garcia Return Raises Derby Tensions
Espanyol banned Barcelona symbols and increased security at RCDE Stadium due to safety concerns after goalkeeper Joan Garcia's controversial transfer, with five straight league wins raising tensions.
- Dec 30, Espanyol announced a ban on anyone wearing FC Barcelona shirts, scarves or symbols at the RCDE Stadium ahead of Saturday's LaLiga Catalan derby.
- Amid immediate fan backlash, Joan Garcia moved to Barcelona after a €25 million trigger, with Espanyol warning of sanctions for breaches, and he is now part of this club's past, told Mundo Deportivo.
- Protective netting now sits behind both goals at RCDE Stadium, Espanyol has doubled private security and the Mossos d'Esquadra will patrol in force for Saturday's derby.
- Espanyol warned that breaches could lead to fines and suspension or revocation of club membership, aiming to curb behaviour that could unsettle visitors and challenge Joan Garcia's mental fortitude on return.
- Barcelona top the standings on 46 points and face seven or eight matches in January, including the Spanish Super Cup semi-final on January 7th, while Espanyol sit fifth after five straight wins.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Joan Garcia has spent the Christmas holidays with her family. She has also spent a few days in Prague with her partner, disconnecting from the noise surrounding the derby on January 3rd, in which she will return to the RCDE Stadium, the club house whose goal she defended for nine years after joining the quarry in 2016. “Everyone knows that the hobby of Espanyol is going to roll it a little. She knows that it is a bad drink that has to pass durin…
Joan García’s return to Cornellà heats up the Catalan derby: the Espanyol will shield the stands behind the goal stands and forbid any FC Barcelona symbols
The club wanted to confirm days before what it will be like and to warn all amateurs that they will not allow access to any amateur who carries any kind of symbology of the rival team, of the Barça, nothing related to the entity blaugrana. The RCD Espanyol, unlike other games, has explained that it will be possible to access the stadium two hours before the initial beep, fixed at 21:00 hours, so from 19:00 hours you will be able to access the RC…
The Catalan club has put nets in the goals and there will be a lot of control in the accesses
The Barcelona visits Cornellá on Saturday 3 January in the first match of 2026 for both clubs. An encounter always very complicated for the blueberries, that this year will live an atmosphere even more hostile in the field of the Espanyol because of what supposes the return of Joan García. It is that the march of the goalkeeper, quarry and emblem, the eternal rival scotched a lot in the hobby perica and his return home will not be anything nice.…
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