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La Liga have asked the Spanish Football Federation to move this month’s Clasico from Barcelona to Madrid due to heightened political tensions and protests in Catalonia, The Independent reported.

Nine Catalan separatist leaders were jailed on Monday for between nine and 13 years for their role in an illegal referendum and a failed bid for independence which sparked clashes across the region.

The match between Barcelona and Real Madrid was due to take place on Saturday 26 October at the Camp Nou. However, La Liga are seeking to reverse the dates with the return fixture currently due to take place at the Bernabeu in March of next year.

Upon the announcement of Monday’s verdict, Barcelona released a statement which read: “In the same way that the preventive prison sentence didn’t help to resolve the conflict, neither will the prison sentence given today, because prison is not the solution.

“The resolution of the conflict in Catalonia must come exclusively from political dialogue.

“Therefore, now more than ever, the club asks all political leaders to lead a process of dialogue and negotiation to resolve this conflict, which should also allow for the release of convicted civic and political leaders.

“FC Barcelona also expresses all its support and solidarity to the families of those who are deprived of their freedom.”