Why Barcelona's Camp Nou sat vacant amid the political turmoil in Catalonia

Sid Lowe explains the Catalan referendum, the reaction to Barca's decision to play and what it was like inside Camp Nou. ESPN FC's Barcelona correspondent Samuel Marsden checks in from the Camp Nou after the club decided to play behind closed doors amid political tension in Catalonia. Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu clarifies the club's decision to play Las Palmas behind closed doors. Gerard Pique threatens to retire from Spain's national team if anyone deems his support for Catalonian independence disruptive. A Lionel Messi double led the way as Barcelona cruised past Las Palmas behind closed doors at the Camp Nou. A Lionel Messi double led the way as Barcelona cruised past Las Palmas behind closed doors at the Camp Nou. BARCELONA, Spain -- With less than half an hour to go until a 4.15 p.m. kickoff on Sunday, Barcelona confirmed they would play their La Liga game against Las Palmas behind closed doors. They went on to win 3-0 (their ninth straight victory in all competitions) but it's not often that two Lionel Messi goals are met with silence. That was the case last weekend, though, as Catalonia held a referendum on its independence which took centre stage, with Gerard Pique later calling the match the "worst experience"...