Barcelona has cancelled a scheduled pre-season friendly in Morocco due to the ongoing migrant crisis affecting Ceuta.

Recently, approximately 78,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, leading to around 100 fatalities during this surge. Ceuta’s leader, Juan Jesus Vivas, reported that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants currently remain within the territory.

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The situation has heightened long-standing tensions between Morocco and Spain, with Morocco’s refusal to acknowledge Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla. A humanitarian crisis continues as the matter ignites a serious diplomatic dispute within the EU, raising concerns over border security. While Spain’s response included deploying armed forces to Ceuta and Melilla, critics argue it has been insufficient to restore order.

In light of these developments, Barcelona has “ruled out” the friendly match originally planned for August 15 against IR Tangier, a team located in northwestern Morocco.

The club issued a statement on Thursday saying, “In light of the current uncertainty and circumstances, FC Barcelona considers playing the match would be inappropriate.”

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The cancellation further shortens Barcelona’s already limited pre-season schedule. The La Liga champions had also planned a behind-closed-doors match against Preston North End on August 3, but that was cancelled at the request of the Championship club, reportedly due to an insufficient number of first-team players available.

Barcelona is set to begin their title defence against Elche on August 23.

Barcelona have cancelled a planned pre-season friendly in Morocco as a result of the ongoing migrant crisis in Ceuta.

Over the last few days roughly 78,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on the North African coast, with around 100 people dying in the surge and between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remaining in the territory, according to Ceuta’s leader Juan Jesus Vivas.

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There has long been tension between Morocco and Spain over the enclave, with the former refusing to recognise Spanish sovereignty over it and Spain’s other north African enclave, Melilla.

A humanitarian emergency is still ongoing while the crisis has sparked a fierce diplomatic row within the EU over fears of borders being overrun, with Spain criticised in some quarters for how it has handled it; the response included deploying armed forces to Ceuta and Melilla but some argued it did not go far enough to restore order.

Now Barcelona have “ruled out” a friendly which was due to be held in Morocco. They had been scheduled to face IR Tangier, who are based in northwestern Morocco, on 15 August.

A team statement released on Thursday said: “In light of the current uncertainty and circumstances, FC Barcelona considers playing the match would be inappropriate.”

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The cancellation means Barcelona’s already short pre-season campaign has been further curtailed.

The La Liga champions had been due to play Preston North End behind closed doors on 3 August but that was cancelled at the Championship side’s request, reportedly because they did not have enough first-team players available.

Barcelona begin their title defence against Elche on 23 August.