Barcelona have called off a pre-season friendly in Morocco, citing the ongoing border crisis in Ceuta as the reason behind the decision.

The Spanish champions had been scheduled to take on Ittihad Riadi Tangier in north-western Morocco on 15 August, as part of their preparations for the new campaign. The club stated that, given "the current uncertainty and circumstances," they deemed it inappropriate to go ahead with the fixture.

Though the official statement did not name the crisis directly, BBC Sport understands the cancellation is tied to the situation unfolding at Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast that borders Morocco.

The Ceuta crisis explained

Around 78,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory by sea last week, a crossing that resulted in 100 deaths and sent shockwaves across European Union member states that share open borders.

While the majority of those who crossed have since returned to Morocco, between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants are still present in Ceuta. The crisis has strained relations within the EU, with Italy suspending its Schengen arrangement with Spain — a move backed by Finland and Denmark. The Czech Republic went further, calling for Spain's Schengen membership to be temporarily revoked.

Barca's disrupted pre-season

The Morocco cancellation is not the only friendly to fall through for Hansi Flick's side this pre-season. A scheduled match against Preston North End was also scrapped following a training camp in the United Kingdom, where Barcelona did play Birmingham City.

Despite those disruptions, the club's pre-season programme continues. They are set to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday in the Italian city of Udine, and will host Egypt's Al Ahly on 19 August.

Barcelona open their La Liga title defence — as reigning Spanish champions — against Elche on 23 August.