Barca match still on Saturday, say Spanish FA

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) insisted Barcelona's La Liga match at Osasuna should go ahead as planned on Saturday, despite Barca saying it had been postponed due to strike action by air traffic controllers.

Barcelona had earlier said in a statement they had been unable to travel to Pamplona by air because of the wildcat strike, and they would travel later in the day by train to Zaragoza and then on by coach.

"An agreement has been reached that the game between Osasuna and Barca will be played on Sunday," the Spanish champions said on their website.

A spokesperson for the RFEF, however, denied any agreement had been reached.

"The game has not been postponed," he said by telephone. "The RFEF expect the weekend's matches to go ahead as planned, and the Barca game to be played at 1900. There is still time.

"If Barca don't turn up, the disciplinary committee will have to decide what to do."

Osasuna also refused to agree to the match being moved.

"At 14.55 (1355 GMT) we have received no official notification to support the rumours and speculation over the supposed postponement of the match," Osasuna said on their website (www.osasuna.es)

"The game will continue to go ahead as planned. Osasuna understand there is no justification for changing the scheduled day and time."

Saturday's other two matches are unaffected.

Valencia travelled by coach to the Spanish capital on Friday afternoon to play Real Madrid on Saturday (2100), while Atletico Madrid went in the opposite direction, also by coach, in order to play Valencia-based Levante on Saturday (1700).