Ex-Barcelona star Stoichkov backs Catalans

Former Barcelona favourite Hristo Stoichkov on Thursday backed the independence referendum in Catalonia and denounced the violence that marred the banned vote.

“The leaders of Catalonia and the people who voted decided that the moment has come to separate and I will back them,” Stoichkov, a Bulgarian, told his country’s public broadcaster BNT. “This is only natural. I’ve lived there for 27 years. I know what they have given me and what I have given them.”

Spain play Albania in Alicante on Friday. The run in to the game has been marked by the controversy over Barcelona defender Gerard Pique’s views over the recent independence referendum and the insults he received while training in Madrid.