Barcelona cancels World Cup celebration amid police clashes with fans

Barcelona has canceled plans to honor the club's World Cup-winning players before their upcoming match against Athletic Club. The decision follows clashes between police and fans displaying Catalan independence flags prior to last weekend's LaLiga opener. Club president Joan Laporta expressed concerns over the violent police actions and emphasized that the celebration would not take place in the current context. Instead, Barcelona will hold a demonstration of the Catalan flag of independence during the match, intending to foster unity among fans. The clash with Athletic Club is scheduled to kick off at 10pm BST.

• 3:32 PMYahoo Sports — Barcelona cancel planned celebration for World Cup winning players after police clash with fans