Football: 'El Clasico' to be played on Dec. 18

ANKARA

The famous "El Clasico" clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid will take place on Dec. 18, the Spanish Football Federation announced on Wednesday.

Spanish football's highly-anticipated El Clasico -- the name given in football to any match between fierce rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona -- will take place at the Nou Camp on Dec.18.

Earlier, the La Liga showdown was scheduled to be held in Barcelona's home ground, Nou Camp Stadium, on Oct. 26.

However, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) decided to postpone the "El Clasico" amid violent Catalan protests in Barcelona.

The decision to hold the clash on Dec. 18 has been taken after Real Madrid and Barcelona reached an agreement over the new date.

There had been violent clashes between the police and Catalan pro-independence demonstrators following the imprisonment of nine Catalan separatist leaders on Oct. 14.

Protesters in Catalonia were angered by Supreme Court ruling that sentenced nine separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for their role in the illegal independence referendum and the following declaration of independence in 2017.