Barcelona cancels Morocco friendly amid 'uncertainty'

FC Barcelona announced Thursday that it will not play a friendly match in Tangier, Morocco, due to "uncertainty." The decision comes just a week after an unprecedented surge of migrants crossing from Morocco into Spain's territory of Ceuta.

The Catalan club stated in a brief statement that the August 15th match was ruled out amid the "current context of uncertainty." FC Barcelona believes that "the circumstances are currently not right for this match to be held," the statement added.

Ceuta, a small Spanish territory with 84,000 inhabitants, saw 72,000 migrants arrive from July 30th, according to official Spanish figures. Dozens drowned attempting to swim around a Mediterranean Sea barrier. The events have shocked Spain and created friction with some EU countries advocating for stricter immigration policies.

Madrid has refrained from criticizing Rabat over the mass arrivals, which some commentators interpret as Morocco's attempt to pressure Spain. Morocco does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta or Melilla, its other North African exclave, and has claimed both territories since gaining independence in 1956. Some analysts suggest the crisis was Morocco's way of warning Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sought to improve relations with Rabat's traditional rival, Algeria.

Certain Spanish political parties, including the far-right Vox and the far-left Sumar, have called for Morocco to be stripped of its right to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. However, this symbolic demand is unlikely to succeed, as FIFA ultimately decides on World Cup hosts.

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FC Barcelona believes that the circumstances are currently not right for this match to be held.