Thirteen people were injured when a car drove into a crowd of fans gathered outside the RCDE Stadium ahead of the high-stakes derby between Espanyol and Barcelona on Thursday.
The match, which saw Barcelona seal the La Liga title with a 2-0 victory, was briefly delayed in its opening minutes as the referee was informed of the incident by police.
Authorities in Barcelona confirmed that four of the injured were taken to hospital, though none sustained life-threatening injuries. The most serious injury reported was a broken leg.
According to police, the crash occurred as Espanyol supporters gathered to welcome their team’s coach ahead of the game. A video circulated on social media shows a car stopped between bins, surrounded by fans, before suddenly accelerating into the crowd.
Ten ambulances were dispatched to the scene. Local police arrested the driver on suspicion of dangerous driving and causing injury.
In a statement shared on social media, police reassured the public that the incident posed no threat to spectators inside the stadium.
“It was an accident. Some people were injured, but not seriously. There are no major incidents to report,” said Salvador Illa, president of the Government of Catalonia, who was present at the match. He spoke to Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus shortly after the event.
Despite the troubling scenes outside, the match proceeded and concluded with Barcelona lifting the league trophy. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
