Karim Benzema on issue of Catalan independence: 'We need Barcelona in this league'

Following La Liga president Javier Tebas' stern warning that Barcelona and Espanyol will be prevented from competing in Spain's top tier should the region vote in favour of independence, Karim Benzema has chimed in by insisting the league can't do without Barcelona.

"We need Barcelona in this league," Benzema said on Wednesday, while on international duty with France. "This is what football is like, two big teams - Real Madrid and Barcelona. If they had to go to Ligue 1 it would be a problem - we're hoping that things will be left as they are."

Tebas' threat comes as Catalonia is set to hold a non-binding referendum on Nov. 9 after Spain's government vetoed the autonomous community's request to hold an official referendum in April.

Current rules only permit clubs from Spain and Andorra to compete in La Liga, meaning changes would have to be implemented if Catalonia were to secede.

Catalonia-born players such as Xavi and Gerard Pique have come out in support of a referendum, with the former saying: "We have all the right in the world to vote. We need to vote, we need the people to show their opinions and I am in favour of the referendum obviously."