Barcelona President Sandro Rosell says the club mustn't become embroiled in Catalonia's fight for independence.
The 48-year-old official believes the club must represent the views of all fans, whether they believe in independence or not.
But he has conceded that some supporters may use El Clasico against Real Madrid on October 7 as a platform to express their views.
“I am convinced that Camp Nou will be a pressure cooker at El Clasico for Barca and Catalonia,” Rosell told Catalunya Informacio. “But the Barca and Catalan people are very civil and polite.
“Ultimately, the social gathering that is Barca becomes a representation for the masses in Catalonia. There are many numbers of fans, and they are allowed to express whatever they want.
“But the club should not come to this. The club is a huge group of people, with many ways of thinking, each person having their own ideals.
“If you want to compare, it's as if the club had to decide whether it was Buddhist, Muslim or Catholic. Individually, each person has their religion and practice.
“Our institution must be neutral, but always know and understand what most of the people want.”
