By Stefan Morkis and Ian Roache

DUNDEE CITY Council has refuted claims that it has ignored the visit of football giants Barcelona to the city.

The Spanish superstars meet Dundee United tomorrow in a glamour game that will attract a bumper attendance and be shown live on TV in Barca’s homeland and across Europe.

United directors have expressed their dismay at what they perceive as a lack of interest by the local authority.

Club officials attended a reception at Bute House in Edinburgh hosted by First Minister Alex Salmond last night, where they were joined by representatives of Barcelona and Hibs, who met the Spanish club last night in a friendly at Murrayfield.

They believe a similar event should have taken place in Dundee, even though they made no approach to the local authority to discuss arranging one.

“There has been a lack of input from Dundee City Council and we find it hard to understand why that’s the case,” said a spokesman for the Tannadice club.

“They could have offered to hold a reception for the Barcelona party but there has been nothing.

“This could have been a chance to build bridges between the two cities, given the historic links between United and Barcelona.

“Yet we are welcoming one of the top teams in the world, including stars like Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry, to our city and the council has not been pro-active.

“It is a missed opportunity.”

A city council spokesman said United had not made any approach to the local authority on official recognition of Barcelona’s visit to the city this year—or last.

“Dundee City Council has never offered a civic reception to a team, group, party or individual visiting the city for whatever reason.

“The protocol, as any business and major city institution such as its football clubs are well aware of, has always been that any request received by the city council will be treated on its merits and the vast majority of such requests are agreed.

“Barcelona FC played Dundee United FC in the city last year and no request for civic hospitality was made then either and at no point were comments or questions raised.”