Spain’s State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport has classified the first Clasico of the 2026-27 season as a high-risk fixture. A tightened security plan is in place for the match at Spotify Camp Nou, where kick-off is at 9pm local time on Sunday, October 25.
The high-risk status is a preventive classification, not a prediction of violence. Additional specialist police units will be deployed before, during and after the game, inside and outside the stadium, with reinforced ticketing checks and supporter segregation.
Vinicius ruled out of the trip to Camp Nou
Real Madrid will arrive without their most provocative attacker. The Spanish federation’s disciplinary committee handed Vinicius Junior a four-game ban after his red card against Villarreal: two games for violent conduct after pulling defender Nathan Saliba’s hair during the match at the Bernabeu on Saturday, October 10, and two more for his reaction to the dismissal.
Moments after the hair pull, Vinicius converted a Jude Bellingham pass to put Madrid 2-0 up, but the goal was ruled out on VAR review of the incident. He will miss the Clasico as well as fixtures against Sevilla, Racing Santander and Valencia.
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Mourinho reaches for the Calciopoli comparison
Jose Mourinho has used recent media appearances to attack the Negreira case directly. Speaking to Amazon Prime ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League trip to the Stadio Olimpico, the Portuguese coach contrasted Italy’s handling of the 2006 Calciopoli affair with the pace of the Spanish investigation.
“Congratulations to Italy. You know why? Because it’s the only country where Calciopoli was truly Calciopoli,” Mourinho said.
“What happened in Spain, everyone knows what happened, and still, you don’t breathe well. Until now, nothing happened.”
“If nothing happens, then it may be the biggest referee corruption scandal in world football.”
Mourinho also skipped the post-match press conference after Real Madrid’s win over Villarreal on October 10, saying he wanted to stay on the bench for the Clasico.
“I will not speak because I want to be on the bench against Sevilla and Barcelona,” he told Spanish reporters.
UEFA holds a Real Madrid Negreira dossier
Real Madrid wrote to UEFA in June demanding “firm” and “exemplary” disciplinary action against Barcelona over more than €7 million in historic payments made to companies linked to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Spanish refereeing association, between 2001 and 2018.
Barcelona have consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining the payments covered technical reports on referees.
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UEFA’s ethics and disciplinary inspectors opened a review of the matter in 2023 but have not announced any further steps publicly, and Madrid is now urging the governing body to resume those proceedings.
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