Barcelona to join Catalan strike after violent crackdown on referendum

Barcelona will close its offices Tuesday and cancel training sessions in protest of the violent measures taken by authorities on the weekend during Catalonia's "illegal" referendum on independence.

The Associated Press reports that more than 890 civilians were injured in clashes Sunday. Some were attacked while casting their ballots at polling stations. Police reportedly fired rubber bullets and used excessive force to suppress the independence movement.

In response to the violence, Barcelona played its match against Las Palmas behind closed doors. Defender Gerard Pique, who voted prior to the 3-0 win Sunday, said afterward that it was his "worst experience" as a player.

The Spanish government ruled the referendum illegal, according to The Telegraph. The Spanish constitutional court suspended the order to hold the vote, with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy describing it as a "premeditated attack on the legality of the Spanish state."

Barcelona defended constituents within the area and condemned "the use of violence to prevent the exercise of free democratic rights and the freedom of expression of its people during the referendum that took place throughout Catalonia this Sunday."

Staff members at the club stopped what they were doing for 15 minutes Monday after a call from the Table for Democracy to strike.

The majority of Barcelona's star players are away on international duty, meaning they won't be around to participate in Tuesday's strike.

Ninety percent of the votes were in favour of splitting from Spain.