MADRID, Oct. 18 -- The Spanish Competition Committee have decided to postpone the first 'Clasico' of the season between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid due to the current unrest in the region of Catalonia following the sentencing of nine separatist leaders to prison terms of between 9 and 13 years on Monday.

The decision to postpone the game scheduled for 1pm local time on October 26th was taken late on Thursday as Barcelona saw its fourth night of violent clashes in the streets and in the knowledge that October 26th is also the day for a planned protest march in Barcelona against the sentence.

The Committee rejected the request of Spanish football league (LaLiga) President Javier Tebas to switch the order of the two 'Clasicos' to allow for the game to be played in Madrid next weekend with the return fixture in Barcelona at the start of March.

Both clubs were against the move, alleging that it would adulterate the competition and the Committee will have to now find a new date for one of the most important matches of the season with either December 7th or December 18th likely dates.

Earlier on Thursday Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde had expressed his opposition to changing the date of the game saying, "there are nine days left until the match and there is currently too much talk."

"If the match were tomorrow then perhaps it wouldn't go ahead, but there are still nine days to go. There is room to maneuver," commented Valverde, who added that the club would, nevertheless abide by "whatever is decided."

【体坛英语资讯：Madrid Clasico postponed due to unrest in Catalan region】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Pierce: Go out and play basketball on street

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Paris Hilton defamation lawsuit settled

★ 体坛英语资讯：Russia march on to quarters, Israel beat Croatia

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Charlie Sheen also Ashley Dupres client

★ 体坛英语资讯：Trail Blazers hand 12th defeat to slumping Heat

★ 体坛英语资讯：Zheng makes history with semis spot in grand slam

★ 体坛英语资讯：Venus, Sharapova go through at Wimbledon

★ 体坛英语资讯：Capello just the tonic for England

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Daniel Craig swaps speedos for woolly jumpers in new film

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Aishwarya Rai and her husband promote an entertainment event in Toronto