Skip to main content
Politics to overshadow Venezuela's friendly against Catalonia
Venezuela celebrate their victory over Argentina

INTERNATIONAL politics is likely to overshadow tonight’s friendly between Venezuela and Catalonia in Spain. 

Venezuela’s manager offered his resignation over the political use of his national team, while Catalonia — which is in the middle of an independence dispute with Spain — will be missing players because some non-Catalan teams didn’t release them.

Venezuela is coming off a convincing 3-1 win over Lionel Messi’s Argentina last Friday, but what attracted most of the attention after the friendly was an announcement by Venezuela manager Rafael Dudamel. 

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
THE RESOLVE UNALTERED: Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez, center, makes a statement flanked by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, right, and National Assembly President, Jorge Rodriguez, at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela on Wednesday
Features / 16 January 2026
16 January 2026

International solidarity can ensure that Trump and his machine cannot prevail without a level of political and economic cost that he will not want to pay, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE

Demonstrators march to protest Israel's military actions in Gaza, ahead of a friendly match between a selection of Palestinian players and a group of Spanish players from the Basque Country, in Bilbao, Spain, November 15, 2025
Men’s football / 18 November 2025
18 November 2025
Demonstrators protest outside of the White House in Washington, November 15, 2025
Latin America / 18 November 2025
18 November 2025

The global left must be unwavering in it is support for Venezuela as Washington increases its aggression, and clear-eyed about the West’s cynical motives for targeting it, says CLAUDIA WEBBE