Barcelona News

Catalan separatist wins Barcelona municipal polls

By AFP

Barcelona - A Catalan separatist won municipal elections in Barcelona for the first time on Sunday, tailed closely by outgoing left-wing mayor Ada Colau.

Ex-Barcelona president Rosell to stand trial for money laundering

By AFP

Madrid - Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell will stand trial for alleged money laundering related to television rights and sponsorship of the Brazilian national football team, a court said Friday.

Rome goes crazy over miracle comeback against Barca

By AFP

Rome - Car horns blaring, flags waving, fans singing in the streets and wild cheers pouring from every household, the Italian capital came alive Tuesday night as Roma knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League after a miracle comeback.

'Footquakes': Messi really does make the Earth tremble

By AFP

Vienna - It's a scientific fact: when living football legends Neymar or Lionel Messi scores a goal, the Earth moves and the ground shakes.Don't believe it? Ask Jordi Diaz, a researcher at the Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera in Barcelona.

Madrid, Catalan separatists spar over failed bid for EU agency

By AFP

Madrid - Spain's central government and Catalan separatists traded the blame Monday after Barcelona failed to be picked to host the European Medicines Agency, which is leaving London after Britain's decision to exit the EU.

Barcelona mayor says Catalan independence drive a 'disaster'

By AFP

Barcelona - Barcelona's mayor on Saturday accused the ousted government of Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont of overseeing a "disaster" in their push to break away from Spain.

Republic or no republic? Day of confusion in Catalonia

By AFP

Barcelona - Is Catalonia's republic dead in the water? Are its leaders really beating a retreat just three days after the regional parliament declared independence?A sense of confusion reigned Monday on the streets of Barcelona...

'Time to declare independence': 450,000 protest in Barcelona

By AFP

Barcelona - Led by Catalonia's separatist president Carles Puigdemont, hundreds of thousands of independence supporters protested in Barcelona on Saturday, shouting "freedom" and "independence" after Madrid announced drastic measures to stop the region from breaki...

Barca won't be used as political tool - Bartomeu

By AFP

Barcelona - Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu insisted on Saturday the Catalan giants cannot be used by either side of a political battle over Catalonia's drive to gain independence from Spain.

Worried and divided, Barcelona torn over independence

By AFP

Barcelona - Barcelona residents on Tuesday waited with bated breath to hear whether Catalan president Carles Puigdemont would follow through with his threat to declare independence.

Tenderness and unity at heart of wounded Barcelona

By AFP

Barcelona - With a smile, two girls offer flowers to passers-by in Las Ramblas as the wounded heart of Barcelona forgets its divisions in the wake of a murderous van rampage.

Spain probe deepens as second suspect wins release

By AFP

Madrid - One week on from the two deadly vehicle rampages in Spain, a second suspect was granted conditional release Thursday as a probe into the deadly attacks deepened.

Spain probe widens one week after deadly attacks

By AFP

Madrid - One week on from two vehicle rampages in Spain, police Thursday probed the international connections of a terror cell after a suspect admitted the jihadists were targeting monuments in an even bigger attack.

Spain suspect says terror cell planned big attack on monuments

By AFP

Madrid - A suspected member of the terror cell that unleashed carnage in Spain last week admitted to a judge on Tuesday that the jihadists had planned to hit monuments in an even bigger attack.

Tears and sorrow at mass for Spain attack victims

By AFP

Barcelona - Mourners wiped back tears at a solemn mass at Barcelona's stunning Sagrada Familia church on Sunday for victims of the deadly vehicle attacks that have devastated Spain.

After terror attack, Barcelona under fire over security barrier

By AFP

Barcelona - Barcelona's authorities came under fire Saturday for failing to put up security barriers at the seaside city's main tourist thoroughfare, Las Ramblas, the site of a deadly jihadist attack two days ago.

13 dead, over 100 hurt in two Spanish seaside city attacks

By AFP

Barcelona - Drivers ploughed into pedestrians in two quick-succession, separate attacks in Barcelona and another popular Spanish seaside city Thursday and Friday, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100 others.

Van ploughs into crowd in Barcelona, injuries reported

By AFP

Barcelona - A number of people were injured when a van rammed into a crowd of pedestrians on Barcelona's iconic Las Ramblas on Thursday, police said. "Huge collision on Las Ramblas in Barcelona by an individual driving a van, many injuries," a statement said.

Former Barca stars Kluivert, Davids appear at Mugabe rally

By AFP

Harare - Former Barcelona stars Patrick Kluivert and Edgar Davids joined Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on stage at a political rally ahead of a veterans match planned later this year.

Qatar hits back at rivals with Neymar soft power play

By AFP

Dibai - With the anticipated transfer of football phenomenon Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, Qatar is hitting back at its Gulf rivals with a high-profile soft power play.

Football: Picture this! Pensive Neymar stirs renewed PSG fever

By AFP

Paris - Neymar's decision to post a photo of himself in thoughtful contemplation sparked a fresh wave of speculation that he is on the verge of sealing a world record 222-million-euro ($256.8 million) move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain.

Spain Supreme Court confirms Messi fraud sentence

By AFP

Madrid - Spain's Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed a 21-month jail sentence and 2.09-million-euro ($2.25 million) fine imposed on Lionel Messi for tax fraud, months after the Barcelona football star lodged an appeal.

Spain Supreme Court confirms Messi's 21-month jail sentence

By AFP

Barcelona hailed as living legends after miracle win over PSG

By AFP

Barcelona - Barcelona were hailed as living legends Thursday after Neymar helped the Spanish giants pull off a Nou Camp miracle with a dying minutes Champions League win over stunned Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona bans new hotels in city centre

By AFP

Barcelona - The mayor of Barcelona on Friday banned the opening of new hotels in the saturated city centre, to end the flow of locals out of the area due to pressure on housing from the tourism sector.

The trials of becoming Nigeria's next star

By AFP

Lagos - Somewhere out there is a new Nwankwo Kanu or a Jay-Jay Okocha, but it is not easy for the thousands of pretenders to become Nigeria's newest football hero to get a foot on the ladder.

Spain prosecutors seek Neymar corruption trial

By AFP

Madrid - Neymar could follow Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi to court after Spanish prosecutors asked for the Brazilian striker to be tried over his murky multi-million-euro transfer to the Catalan giants.

Spain prosecutors ask Messi be absolved in fraud trial

By AFP

Barcelona - Spanish prosecutors called on Friday for Lionel Messi to be absolved and his father found guilty on the final day of the pair's high-profile tax fraud trial in Barcelona.

Messi says 'knew nothing' at tax fraud trial in Spain

By AFP

Barcelona - Argentina football star Lionel Messi said Thursday he trusted his father with his finances and "knew nothing" about how his wealth was managed as he took the stand at his tax fraud trial."I was playing football.

Barcelona agree reported record Nike deal

By AFP

Barcelona - Barcelona agreed a "long-term" contract extension with American sportswear giants Nike on Saturday, which will reportedly see the Catalan club surpass Manchester United with the most lucrative kit-sponsorship deal in the world.