Bartomeu: "If Vilarrubí and Monés prefer to resign, you have to respect it"

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu spoke to the media on Monday to explain the decision to play against Las Palmas behind closed doors.

Why they did it: "Yesterday was a difficult day for everyone, there was pressure of all kinds. Once we couldn't suspend the game the decision we took was thought about as if this was a great opportunity to speak. It was a way of making the people ask what is going on in Barcelona. I respect everyone who doesn't like our decision yesterday, but to cancel the game would have been a minute's news, but with the stands empty it lasted 90. It was everybody's decision. This doesn't end here. We will keep defending freedom of expression and democracy."

Who took the decision: "The decision is taken by everyone. We all considered that playing the game was an act of responsibility, but we did it with vacant stands. The people asked what was happening at Camp Nou."

Why wasn't the game suspended: "In the first instance we thought it was better to, but they did not authorise us to."

Playing in another league if Catalunya is independent: “It's a topic which we will evaluate with calm if the moment arrives. We represent all the socios of our club."

The resignations of Vilarrubí and Monés: "Everyone has their form of acting and taking decisions. If Vilarrubí and Monés prefer to resign you have to respect it and we can only thank them for their work. There's unity in the club, there's determination, strength and energy to keep moving forward."