Madrid: La Liga champions FC Barcelona will not be taking sides in the forthcoming elections for the Catalan Regional Assembly on September 27 in which voters will decide between pro-independence groups or those in favour of the region remaining part of Spain.

The leader of the 135 seat assembly Artur Mas has stated that his pro-independence coalition 'Junts pel Si' (Together for Yes) would see a victory as a mandate to start proceedings leading to Catalan independence and are trying to use the vote as a plebiscite, reports Xinhua.