Ex-Barça player Stoichkov calls the Spanish government a "complete disgrace"
The former striker was speaking about Catalonia on television
He has always been strongly in favour of independence in the region
Former Barcelona striker Hristo Stoichkov has attacked the Spanish government and vice president Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría for the way in which they dealt with Catalonia's independence referendum at the weekend.
"I ask myself if the people of Catalonia going to vote are free to vote. It's another thing if you accept or not everything they ask for," Stoichkov said on a show on Univisión Deportes.
Later, he attacked Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría: "Her grandfather, a Franquista. She's a Franquista, too. And her son. Is it here that demands the thing we have to do? Please, resign now.
"You cannot order the police to hit innocent people. The Spanish government, you are a complete disgrace. For that reason you will be where you belong to be, separated from the world."
Stoichkov has always been pro-independence and has previously said: "When I used to play for the Bulgarian national team, I'd always wear an armband that was the colours of the Catalan flag.
"I've always been pro-independence, ever since I said as much at Wembley in 1992. Why should you have to depend on someone else? Why have to pay what someone else says?"
