Barcelona's Andres Iniesta urges talks to solve Catalan crisis

Barcelona club captain Andres Iniesta has urged everyone responsible for  the Catalan independence crisis to start talking.

There has been widespread unrest in Catalonia over a referendum on independence from the rest of Spain and there have already been widespread implications for sport.

Barcelona played Las Palmas in La Liga behind closed doors at the Nou Camp last weekend, while Barca defender Gerard Pique was booed when he trained with the Spanish national team earlier this week..

Now Iniesta has said enough is enough and it is time for the politicians to sort it out.

Speaking on social media, he said: "I have never publicly assessed such complex situations with different feelings involved, but this situation we live in is exceptional, and there is one thing I am clear about before we become more damaged: dialogue, the persons for everything, talk. Do it for all of us. We deserve to live in peace."

Iniesta is currently out with a hamstring injury and is missing Spain's two World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Israel.

Spain coach Julien Lopetegui has urged his players to focus on Friday's match against Albania where Spain could confirm their place in next year's tournament in Russia.

He has called on the fans to back Pique and says it is time to move on and concentrate on the game.