Barcelona will wear their Senyera shirt when they take on Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon.
It will be the first time Barca have worn the yellow and red shirt in their own stadium in their 115-year history, the colours denoting the Catalan flag.
At the same time, Athletic will play in green shirts, white shorts and red socks, an obvious reference to the Basque Country flag, the Ikurrina.
The idea to wear the Senyera during the week of Catalonia’s National Day, September 11, was first put to the Barca board by institutional Vice-President Carles Villarubi on June 16, and has been well received by the members and club President Josep Maria Bartomeu.
However, the club has moved swiftly to state that it does not mix football and politics and have issued a statement.
“The Senyera shirt is not being worn because of September 11. We are doing it to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the fall of Barcelona at the hands of the troops of Philip V and the French in 1714”, it read.
Both Barcelona and Athletic have consulted the Liga on the matter, with no objections being raised to either side.
