Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has rejected calls by Catalan officials for negotiations on a referendum on the region's independence, saying the law does not allow it.

More than 500,000 people joined an anti-violence march in Barcelona protesting at last week's terror attacks in which 15 people died.

2016 has begun with football and politics mixing again in Catalonia with unfortunate results — during three ‘derbi’ games packed with plenty of regretful incident on and off the pitch.