Barcelona’s Catalan conundrum: Independence quest risks damaging region’s most iconic institution

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Barcelona’s strike force of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez help explain the global attraction of the Catalan club — exciting and succcessful. (AFP)
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Barcelona’s strike force of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez help explain the global attraction of the Catalan club — exciting and succcessful. (AFP)
Updated 21 October 2017
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Barcelona’s Catalan conundrum: Independence quest risks damaging region’s most iconic institution

BARCELONA: ‘Sport and politics don’t mix’ is a well-worn mantra of many an armchair pundit, but try telling that to fans of FC Barcelona.
While the club is known the world over for winning Champions League and La Liga titles galore and, thanks to talents such as Lionel Messi, Michael Laudrup, Ronaldinho and Xavi, playing some of the best football seen over the past 30 years, it is the perception that the club is a Catalan institution that really marks it out as different.
That means when it comes to recent violent clashes and the growing movement for Catalan independence, sport and politics most definitely mix for FC Barcelona. And that could have huge implications for the club, both on and off the pitch.
The political ructions, the worst since democracy returned to Spain in 1978, could spook sponsors and lead to the expulsion of Barca, as it is popularly known, from Spanish and European football should Catalonia gain independence.
Bother for Barca’s brand
The club’s global fan base is rivalled only by Real Madrid and Manchester United, and so while Spain suffered a catastrophic economic crash Barca’s revenue jumped from €473 million ($557 million) in 2010-11 to a record €708 million in 2016-17. Of last season’s income, €264 million came from commercial activities, €178 million from media rights and €175 million euros from the 99,350-capacity Nou Camp.
Yet those steady income streams — and Barca’s target of generating annual revenue of €1 billion by 2021 — may be jeopardized by Catalonia’s political convulsions.
“In marketing, there’s something called negative brand rub-off. If the Catalans are perceived as being troublemakers, commercial partners might also be seen as troublemakers by consumers,” said Simon Chadwick, professor of Sports Enterprise at Britain’s University of Salford.
Barcelona’s online presence reflects the internationalization of its brand; its website is available in 10 languages, including Arabic and Japanese, and the club’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds have nearly 200 million followers combined.
The prospect of brand contamination will likely trouble potential patrons from Asia, which has provided all Barca’s commercial shirt sponsors.
“The Chinese are concerned about what’s happening in Catalonia, because what the Catalans are trying to do is the antithesis of everything China stands for,” Chadwick said.
“China is all about centralized control, compliance and conformity. China doesn’t want its companies and commercial organizations associating with a club synonymous with non-conformity and dissent. Potential sponsors in other markets will likely be worried too.”

The club and Catalan culture
Yet Barca’s history prevents it remaining aloof to Catalonia’s political crisis. Founded in 1899 as Catalan nationalism re-emerged in the late 19th century, Barca became an expression of local pride. The Catalan flag and cross of St. Jordi, the region’s patron saint, were added to the club’s badge in 1910, while in 1917 Catalan became its official language.
Following General Franco’s victory in Spain’s civil war in 1939, the triumphant fascists banned public use of the Catalan language and repressed Catalonia’s political, cultural and economic institutions and all expressions of Catalan identity.
FC Barcelona was not exempt from this purge. Catalonia’s flag was removed from the club’s badge, its name was changed, and the dictatorship, which ruled until 1975, appointed its club presidents.
Yet Franco’s repression strengthened Catalan identity and amplified FC Barcelona’s role in that.
“As Catalans had no political parties, no regional government, and no right to use their own language, they threw their cultural pride into Barça. At a Barca match, people could shout in Catalan and sing traditional songs when they could do it nowhere else,” former player and coach Carles Rexach said in 1984.
As Franco’s health ailed, his grip on Spain loosened and in 1968 the incoming FC Barcelona president said words that became a mantra “Barca es mes que un club” – Barca is more than a club, a phrase now emblazoned on the Nou Camp’s seats.
Catalan nationalists began repoliticizing Barca and the Catalan language was again heard over the stadium speakers.
Joan Laporta’s reign as club president from 2003 to 2010 brought Catalanisme again to the fore. According to a 2006 study, 53 percent of Catalans associate Barca with the idea of Catalonia, versus 38 percent who associate it with either the city of Barcelona or a football team.
On referendum day, Barca played its home match against Las Palmas behind closed doors to protest military police violence against voters. The club acted after league officials refused a postponement — Barcelona would have forfeited the three points and incurred a further three-point penalty if the game had not gone ahead.
Some media questioned whether playing the game belied the promise to be mes que un club, but Barca face a delicate balancing act of remaining true its commitment to support Catalanisme without jeopardizing its footballing privileges.
“FC Barcelona … will support the will of the majority of Catalan people, and will do so in a civil, peaceful and democratic way,” Barca said in a statement detailing its support of Catalanisme and the right of Catalans to hold an independence referendum. The club declined to answer questions from Arab News.
“FC Barcelona has never supported the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote in the referendum as it has a diversity of opinions from its 143,855 members.”
Which way for Barca?
Should Catalonia secede and its clubs join a Catalan league, the fledgling competition would prove little more than a procession for Barcelona; city rivals RCD Espanyol are Catalonia’s second club, but have never finished higher than third in Liga and have a salary budget barely one-tenth of Barca’s. Girona are playing their debut top-flight season, while Reus and Tarragona are in the second division and several Catalan clubs compete in the regional, 80-team third tier.
Catalonia is not a UEFA member, so switching to a Catalan league would seemingly exclude Barca from the Champions League, leaving it facing a huge slump in commercial and broadcasting revenue. UEFA declined to comment.
There are examples of football clubs playing in foreign leagues, most notably reigning French champions Monaco. Yet attempts to create multi-country leagues have failed to materialize under various guises, and Spain’s punitive response to Catalonia’s separatist aspirations suggest Barcelona would find it difficult to remain in La Liga.
The league’s president, the bellicose Javier Tebas, has long threatened to expel Catalan clubs should the region gain independence. La Liga declined to comment, instead referring Arab News to recent quotes by Tebas that struck a more conciliatory tone.
“We’ll see what’s going to happen with the declaration of independence. If it goes through I will automatically call for a meeting with all Catalan clubs in La Liga,” Tebas said. “I think there won’t be any immediate exit. If the clubs support independence they will be out of the national competitions.”
Tebas’s quotes imply Barcelona would not necessarily be excluded, and fans watching Wednesday’s 3-1 Champions League victory over Greece’s Olympiakos seemed confident realpolitik would ensure their club’s football activities are unimpaired.
“I don’t think it will affect Barca. La Liga wouldn’t like to lose us and it’ll be the same for the Champions League,” Barcelona-born Javier, 44, told Arab News during half-time at the Nou Camp.
“I’d like the club to publicly support independence, but I understand that they can’t.”
Fan dilemma
Those views were echoed by other supporters. Mario, 46, a socio — or club member — since 1983, described the club as his only love.
“Barcelona comes first, independence second. Barcelona is the essence of Catalonia. I’d like us to stay in the Spanish league after independence,” he said. “Barcelona must support what the people of Catalonia want.”
As the 18th minute approached, fans in Barcelona’s pitch-side singing section unveiled a banner declaring in English “Freedom for Catalonia.” The familiar chants of “independence” and “freedom” reverberated around a rain-soaked and otherwise subdued Nou Camp to coincide with 17 minutes 14 seconds – or 1714, the year Catalonia fell to Spanish forces.
Among the sodden ultras, Catalonia’s independence flag, the Estelada, was prominent, along with the pro-independence “si” flags of the referendum. In another stand, a banner stated “Catalonia is not Spain”, written in English, presumably with television audiences in mind.
Barca, which joined a Catalonia general strike on Oct. 3, refused to speculate on whether it would remain in La Liga should the region become independent.
“If the situation materialized, then the Board of Directors would have to consider the opinion of members,” its statement said. “The club is not planning for any other scenario than playing in the Spanish league.”
The club believes it cannot be expelled should Catalonia’s government make a unilateral declaration of independence. Barca also highlighted its importance to the league, claiming it provided 30 percent of its audience.
“Any league, including La Liga, would want to have a club like FC Barcelona in its competition,” it added.
Uncertainty over Catalonia’s future comes at a troubling time for Barca; over the summer it unwillingly sold Neymar, Messi’s heir apparent, while coach Luis Enrique also departed following a disappointing La Liga campaign and a limp surrender to Italy’s Juventus in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Homegrown stalwarts such as Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta appear to be waning, while recent transfer activity including the over-priced purchases of Paulinho and Ousmane Dembélé indicate the absence of a broader recruitment strategy and a steady erosion of the footballing values for which Barça are synonymous.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has yet to extend his contract, which expires next summer, and the Argentine’s reluctance to commit hints at disquiet; yet unknown is the impact of Catalonia’s uncertainty on its players.
“In terms of what’s happened in Catalonia over the last month, how does that affect the Barcelona brand? ”added Salford’s Chadwick. “This is a profound commercial issue for Barcelona. It seems to be something the club and the fans have not yet addressed.”


Saudi football federation, World Football Summit unite to showcase football innovation at WFS Asia 2024 in Riyadh

Updated 12 November 2024
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Saudi football federation, World Football Summit unite to showcase football innovation at WFS Asia 2024 in Riyadh

  • Scheduled for Dec. 2-3 at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, the summit will mark an expansion on last year’s successful debut in Jeddah

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and World Football Summit have announced a partnership for the 2024 edition of the event.

Scheduled for Dec. 2-3 at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, the summit will mark an expansion on last year’s successful debut in Jeddah, which brought together over 1,500 industry leaders.

This year’s edition will have an expected 2,000 delegates and will feature enhanced programming and networking opportunities, fostering strategic discussions and partnerships aimed at developing the region’s football industry, organizers said.

Ibrahim Alkassim, secretary-general of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, highlighted the event’s importance.

“Hosting WFS Asia in Riyadh underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing football not just nationally, but across the region. This event aligns perfectly with our Vision 2030 goals. We invite the entire football community to join us, learn from each other, and elevate the business surrounding the beautiful game,” he said.

The return of WFS Asia to Saudi Arabia reflects the region’s growing appetite for football as a key component of its economic and cultural development, Jan Alessie, co-founder and director of WFS, said.

“The overwhelming response to our first edition demonstrated the region’s appetite for a world-class football business event. Our return to Saudi Arabia underscores the nation’s emergence as a pivotal hub for football development and innovation,” he said.

Khalid Al-Khudair, CEO of SMC, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing SMC’s commitment to fostering football’s commercial growth: “We are proud at SMC to enhance commercial opportunities in the football industry, both locally and internationally, through strategic partnerships that contribute to the growth of sports marketing in the Kingdom.”

WFS Asia 2024 supports Vision 2030’s goal of boosting the sports sector’s contribution to 2.5-3 percent of Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product.

The 2024 edition of WFS Asia will align closely with Vision 2030’s objectives through a comprehensive agenda that focuses on key themes critical to the future of football in the Kingdom.

These themes include the integration of technology in football, innovations in fan engagement, and the development of sports tourism as a significant economic driver. Sustainability will also be a central topic, reflecting the global push toward environmentally conscious practices in sports.

Additionally, the growth of women’s football and the nurturing of youth development programs will be highlighted, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s dedication to inclusivity and long-term talent cultivation in the sport.


FA investigates Premier League referee Coote over video rant

Updated 12 November 2024
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FA investigates Premier League referee Coote over video rant

  • Referees body Professional Game Match Officials Ltd. announced on Monday that Coote, 42, had been suspended pending a full investigation
  • The Football Association is also looking at Coote’s comments

LONDON: The Football Association is investigating after a video was posted on social media appearing to show Premier League referee David Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp.
Referees body Professional Game Match Officials Ltd. announced on Monday that Coote, 42, had been suspended pending a full investigation.
The Football Association is also looking at Coote’s comments. It is understood part of its investigation will center on whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constitutes an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules.
“We are aware of the matter, and we are investigating it,” an FA spokesman said on Tuesday.
According to the clip, Coote, who refereed Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa on Saturday, said Klopp was “arrogant” and used offensive language.
Retired referee Mike Dean, now a TV pundit, believes the incident will have a damaging effect on officials throughout English football.
In an interview with Sky Sports, the 56-year-old said: “As referees you can’t put yourself in that position no matter what you do.
“You can say things away from camera, you can talk among your friends and things and colleagues, but you can’t let somebody video this and then hope that it’s never going to come out.”
The video appears to refer to a match that Coote officiated between Liverpool and Burnley in July 2020, which finished 1-1. Liverpool had already been crowned champions.
Klopp criticized Coote after the match, saying the referee had been too lenient in his treatment of Burnley challenges.
Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season after nearly nine years in charge at Anfield.
The German was also critical of Coote over an incident in a match against Arsenal last season in which Gunners midfielder Martin Odegaard’s hand made contact with the ball.
Coote, as VAR, did not advise on-field official Chris Kavanagh to review the incident.
Coote was also the VAR in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in October 2020 when Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford inflicted a season-ending injury on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.
Pickford was not sent off for the challenge and did not face retrospective action because, under FA rules, that can only happen if an incident was not seen either at the time or when it was reviewed by VAR.


Low turnout for France-Israel match would be understandable, says Upamecano

Updated 12 November 2024
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Low turnout for France-Israel match would be understandable, says Upamecano

  • Israeli soccer fans were attacked in Amsterdam last week by groups shouting anti-Israeli slurs
  • “I can understand why people don’t want to come. It’s their choice. We’ll keep going, we’ll fight on the pitch,” 26-year-old center-back Upamecano told reporters

PARIS: A low turnout for France’s high-security Nations League soccer match against Israel at the Stade de France on Thursday would be understandable, defender Dayot Upamecano said on Tuesday.
French media expect only 20,000 fans in the 80,000 capacity stadium north of Paris, where President Emmanuel Macron will attend under tight security, with 2,500 police around the stadium, 1,500 across the city and 1,600 stadium staff deployed.
Israeli soccer fans were attacked in Amsterdam last week by groups shouting anti-Israeli slurs, with at least five people injured after Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Europa League game at Ajax.
Some Maccabi supporters were also seen chanting anti-Arab slogans before Thursday’s match.
On Sunday, Israel urged its citizens to avoid attending cultural and sports events abroad involving Israelis over the coming week.
French supporters’ group Les Irreductibles Français conducted a survey among its members, which showed 15 percent would boycott the France-Israel match due to the Israel-Gaza war.
Some 30 percent cited “security risks,” with 34 percent listing practical reasons such as being unavailable or out of holiday time.
“I can understand why people don’t want to come. It’s their choice. We’ll keep going, we’ll fight on the pitch,” 26-year-old center-back Upamecano told reporters on Tuesday.
Dutch police said they took away more than 300 pro-Palestinian protesters who ignored a ban on demonstrations in Amsterdam on Sunday and detained 50 more following clashes involving Israeli soccer fans last week.
“We will stay focused on the upcoming match. Sorry I didn’t see what happened in Amsterdam,” Upamecano added.
Asked If the France-Israel match should have been moved he added: “Somewhere else? I don’t know at all. I’m just here to play. I’ve loved playing football since I was little.
“Yesterday was November 11 (Armistice Day). I love peace, I hope that one day we’ll find it again, in every country.”
France are second in Nations league Group A2 on nine points from four games, a point behind Italy and five ahead of Belgium. Israel are bottom of the four-team standings without a point.
The Europa League match between Turkish side Besiktas and Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Nov. 28 will be played at a neutral venue in Hungary, European soccer’s governing body UEFA said on Monday.


Former France striker Wissam Ben Yedder gets 2-year suspended jail sentence in sexual assault case

Updated 12 November 2024
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Former France striker Wissam Ben Yedder gets 2-year suspended jail sentence in sexual assault case

  • The prosecutor requested a jail sentence of two years, six months, including 18 months suspended
  • The plaintiff’s lawyer, Frank Michel, said during the trial that the victim was in a state of shock and asked for 25,000 euros in damages

PARIS: French soccer star Wissam Ben Yedder received a suspended sentence of two years in prison on Tuesday after his trial last month in France for sexually assaulting a woman, one of his lawyers told The Associated Press.
The prosecutor requested a jail sentence of two years, six months, including 18 months suspended.
Lawyer Marie Roumiantseva said Ben Yedder, who was accused of sexual assault while intoxicated, was ordered to pay compensation of 5,000 euros ($5,300) to the victim. The court in the southern city of Nice also imposed on Ben Yedder a duty to follow treatment.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Frank Michel, said during the trial that the victim was in a state of shock and asked for 25,000 euros in damages.
Ben Yedder was charged after a woman filed a lawsuit against him in September. He can appeal the ruling.
The 34-year-old player, a prolific striker who has also played for the national team, was briefly detained then released after the incident in his car on the French Riviera. He was arrested at his home later that night after he first refused to stop his car.
The court also ordered the suspension of Ben Yedder’s driving license for six months.
After his arrest, Ben Yedder — who has since started alcohol detox and therapy — admitted he drove while under the influence. He said during the trial he was so drunk he has no recollection of any kind of sexual assault.
Ben Yedder has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired at the end of last season.
He scored 16 goals with three assists in the French league last season to help Monaco finish second behind Paris Saint-Germain. In five seasons with Monaco, he scored 118 times in 201 appearances in all competitions to become the club’s second-highest scorer behind retired Argentine striker Delio Onnis (223).
Ben Yedder has 19 caps for France, the last of which came in June 2022.
In a separate legal case last year, Ben Yedder was charged with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault over another alleged incident in the south of France.


UAE team show quality at Baseball United Arab Classic final in Dubai

Updated 12 November 2024
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UAE team show quality at Baseball United Arab Classic final in Dubai

  • The team defeated several more experienced baseball nations during their journey to the tournament finale

DUBAI: The UAE’s national baseball team — assembled in just 30 days — put on a stunning performance when they played in their first international tournament at the weekend.

During the inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic, the UAE side won five games before finishing as runners-up, losing in the final to the championship’s highest-ranked team, Pakistan.

All games were played at Baseball United’s new ballpark at The Sevens, with the UAE defeating India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan en route to the quarterfinals. There, they beat Saudi Arabia — also playing in their first international tournament — and followed that up with a semifinal over Palestine.

That was arguably the championship’s most exciting game, with shortstop Chris Beyers hitting a momentum-shifting home run to spearhead the victory. Overall, the UAE outscored their opponents by 23 runs during the tournament, with Beyers (SS), Lorenzo Riddle (RF/P), and Gabriel Reque (DH) winning All-Tournament Team honors.

It was a strong and unprecedented debut for a team new to the international scene. The UAE national team was formed after Baseball United’s chairman, CEO and co-founder Kash Shaikh petitioned the Emirates Cricket Board to allow the organization to build, develop and manage a national baseball program.

The rights were granted on Oct. 4, based on “Baseball United’s professional knowledge, expertise and pedigree as a respected international baseball organization.”

Shaikh said: “I am so proud of this historic team and I’m very grateful to Emirates Cricket Board for enabling us to elevate the UAE on yet another global stage. To go from formation to championship game in just one month’s time is incredible.

“From our managers, Eddie Diaz and Roger Duthie, to the entire coaching staff, to this passionate and talented group of players — everyone came together to positively share the UAE’s vision and values through sport. They truly got the world to take notice. The UAE baseball team, our new ballpark and our Baseball United professional games and brand have put Dubai and the UAE on the baseball map. And we believe it’s just the beginning.”

Diaz, a Hall of Fame manager in Mexico, has a professional baseball career that spans more than four decades, with experience as a player, manager and executive. He played Minor League Baseball with the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians, and also was a Major League Baseball scout for more than a decade. Diaz later managed in Mexico’s top summer baseball league, LMB, for 12 years and its top winter league, the Mexican Pacific League, for 11 years. He also won two Caribbean Series championships.

“As Kash often says, we made history,” said Diaz. “It was an honor for our team to represent the UAE. Most of these guys have spent the vast majority of their lives in this great country so they were very proud to have UAE across their chest. We are looking forward to continuing (to get) better with Baseball United’s leadership, guidance, and support.”

The team follows World Baseball Classic eligibility rules and regulations, which will enable broader representation and participation for local residents. In addition to citizens, WBC rules allow for permanent legal residents and/or players born in the national team’s country of territory to participate in its international events, as well as those with at least one parent who is a citizen of or who was born in the country or territory.

Globally, baseball is classed as a top five sport, with some 600 million fans. Most are located in the US, Latin America, Japan and Korea. In the US alone, professional baseball generates nearly $15 billion in revenue each year.

International tournaments are gaining in worldwide popularity, with the World Baseball Classic generating record attendance, viewership and revenue last year. Baseball is also set to appear in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.