"Barcelona have issued an official statement on their players' links to Russia

Two days after the scandalous video message from Barcelona players Alejandro Balde and Sergi Roberto to the supporters of the terrorist country, the club has released an official statement:

"We want to underline our commitment to the peaceful resolution of the conflict and our belief in the value of sport as a tool to bring peoples together. We once again express our support for the Ukrainian people and deeply regret that this appeal has offended our fans in Ukraine. President Joan Laporta, during his speech in March 2022, expressed his support for them against the backdrop of a war which he described as 'unjustified' and he remembered all the Ukrainian athletes and sportswomen who were part of the club.

In addition, he offered Barcelona's help to all Ukrainians coming to Catalonia to seek asylum. Our help was not limited to words. On match days at Camp Nou, the club organized tents to collect basic necessities for newborns and small children who arrived with their mothers. This initiative, carried out in conjunction with the Red Cross, resulted in the collection of over 17,000 kilos of baby food and other essential products. The campaign to support Ukrainian refugees in Catalonia also included social, educational and sports activities for children and young people in reception centres throughout Catalonia.

These activities, which were carried out by a team of club volunteers, members and staff, aimed to provide emotional support and to engage young Ukrainians who find themselves in an emotionally stressful situation in physical activity. The message of the club president remains relevant now because we have not forgotten our fans in Ukraine. Not only do we offer them our full support, but we hope that they will soon be able to live in peace in their homeland."