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.”


Messi’s son debuts at Argentina youth tournament as grandparents watch

Updated 5 sec ago
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Messi’s son debuts at Argentina youth tournament as grandparents watch

  • The 12-year-old Messi played with the No. 10 jersey of an Inter Miami youth team
  • Thiago’s mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, and several members of his family, including grandparents Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, were in the stands to watch him play

BUENOS AIRES: Thiago Messi, the eldest son of the Argentina star, has made his debut in the “Newell’s Cup” tournament in the countryside city of Rosario.

The 12-year-old Messi played with the No. 10 jersey of an Inter Miami youth team, which lost 1-0 on Monday to host Newell’s Old Boys in the traditional under-13 competition. The team also played Tuesday.

Lionel Messi took his first steps as a footballer in the Argentinian club in Rosario, 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of capital Buenos Aires.

Thiago’s mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, and several members of his family, including grandparents Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, were in the stands to watch him play. Lionel Messi did not attend.

Thiago, who was substituted in the second half, played with his friend Benjamin Suarez, son of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, Messi’s teammate and close friend at Barcelona and now at Inter Miami.

Messi and Suarez are in Rosario after Inter Miami’s early elimination in the MLS playoffs. On Sunday, they watched a friendly game of Inter Miami’s U13 team against Union at the same sports complex.

The youth tournament in Argentina brings together eight teams from North and South America.


Salah ‘in a good place’ at Liverpool despite contract impasse, says Slot

Updated 2 min 39 sec ago
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Salah ‘in a good place’ at Liverpool despite contract impasse, says Slot

  • Slot: The only thing I can say is that if I look at my lineups, Mo is more in than out
  • The latest contracts of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also due to expire at the end of this season

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes Mohamed Salah is “in a good place” and isn’t affected by his contract impasse with the club.

Salah’s latest deal expires at the end of this season and he told reporters after Liverpool’s 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday that he was disappointed not to have received a new contract offer, saying: “I’m probably more out than in.”

The issue dominated Liverpool’s news conference ahead of Wednesday’s match against Real Madrid in the Champions League, with Slot keen to play down any friction with Salah — and even suggested the situation is making the winger play as well as ever.

“I don’t think it distracts Mo at all,” Slot said Tuesday. “Maybe it even brings the best out of him if you look at his performances until now.

“I talk to Mo about what I expect from him, like I do with all the other players, and he is in a good place at the moment. I’m not distracted by his comments and I don’t feel his teammates are.”

Salah has scored 12 goals in 18 appearances for Liverpool this season and is second in the Premier League with 10 goals in 12 games, only behind Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (12 goals).

Slot even quipped: “The only thing I can say is that if I look at my lineups, Mo is more in than out.”

The latest contracts of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also due to expire at the end of this season.

“In fairness, it goes for all three of them — Mo, Virgil and Trent are all in similar positions,” Liverpool defender Andy Robertson said. “Every one of them is so focused on the next game and training and preparing properly.”


Giannis-less Bucks edge Heat, Rockets advance in NBA Cup

Updated 27 November 2024
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Giannis-less Bucks edge Heat, Rockets advance in NBA Cup

  • Lillard hit 10-of-17 from the floor and 8-of-13 from 3-point range while passing off 12 assists as the Bucks improved to 3-0 in group play
  • All 30 league clubs play for the NBA Cup in an in-season tournament with teams divided into six groups of five for round-robin play in hopes of advancing to December knockout rounds

WASHINGTON: Damian Lillard scored 37 points to lead Milwaukee to victory at Miami 106-103 in the NBA Cup on Tuesday despite playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a knee injury.

Lillard hit 10-of-17 from the floor and 8-of-13 from 3-point range while passing off 12 assists as the Bucks improved to 3-0 in group play while the Heat slid to 1-2 and never led.

“It’s a game of runs. I got off to a hot start,” Lillard said. “I didn’t try to force the issue. I didn’t want to be passive. I tried to stay aggressive. I was getting the ball out. We just made good plays.”

All 30 league clubs play for the NBA Cup in an in-season tournament with teams divided into six groups of five for round-robin play in hopes of advancing to December knockout rounds with games also counting in the regular-season standings.

The Houston Rockets qualified for the quarter-finals but the surprise was in Miami, where Greek star Antetokounmpo was a late scratch with a left knee injury, leaving Lillard to take the scoring load.

A 26-9 Heat run to end the third quarter cut a 22-point Milwaukee lead to 85-80 entering the fourth and a 16-7 Miami run lifted the hosts level at 96-96 with 4:02 to play.

Milwaukee’s A.J. Green and Miami’s Terry Rozier traded 3-pointers late, the last by Rozier lifting the Heat within 104-103 with 30 seconds remaining.

Green sank another 3-pointer but it was launched just after a shot-clock violation and wiped out, giving Miami the ball with five seconds to play.

Miami’s Tyler Herro missed a 3-point shot and Milwaukee’s Taurean Prince sank two free throws with 1.2 seconds left, setting the stage for a Rozier 3-point miss at the buzzer.

“Guys made shots, played aggressive, we got some stops when we needed it, we made some free throws and that’s what it takes to win close games,” Lillard said.

“We’ve just had a lot of experience in these games where we have lulls in the second half and get into a dogfight. We let a few go early in the season... everybody wants to improve. We want to get right from the jump and I think we’re starting to show that down the stretch in these games.”

Jimmy Butler led Miami with 23 points.

Houston became the second team to clinch an NBA Cup quarterfinal berth, winning 115-111 in overtime at Minnesota to seal the West Group A crown. Golden State has already sealed the West Group C title.

Turkish center Alperen Sengun had a triple double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to spark Houston, which got 27 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds from Fred VanVleet and 22 points from Dillon Brooks.

Reserve Amen Thompson’s basket with 38 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter lifted Houston level at 102-102.

Thompson sank a 3-pointer to ignite an 11-0 Houston overtime run as baskets by Jabari Smith, Brooks and two from Sengun brought the Rockets a 113-105 lead with 54 seconds remaining.

The Timberwolves, led by 29 points from Anthony Edwards, never got within four after that.

French star Victor Wembanyama scored 24 of his game-high 34 points in the first half to spark the San Antonio Spurs to a 128-115 victory at Utah, eliminating the Jazz’s title hopes.

Phoenix stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal returned from calf strains to spark the Suns over the defending NBA Cup champion Los Angeles Lakers 127-100.

Devin Booker had 26 points and 10 assists to lead the Suns while Beal and Durant each added 23 points in their comeback contests.

“Felt great,” Durant said. “We needed this win. Long as we continue to be healthy we’ll be fine.”

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 25 points and 15 rebounds while LeBron James had 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the first Cup loss ever for the Lakers.

A 22-6 run gave the Suns a 98-78 lead entering the fourth quarter and the Lakers never threatened again.

Chicago’s Coby White scored 21 points and Nikola Vucevic added 19 points and 12 rebounds to power the Bulls over host Washington 127-108.


ICC to decide fate of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy on Friday

Updated 27 November 2024
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ICC to decide fate of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy on Friday

  • India has declined to play in Pakistan over security concerns, which the hosts have dismissed
  • Last year, when Pakistan hosted Asia Cup, India’s matches were played outside the country

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will meet this week to determine the destiny of next year’s Champions Trophy after India refused to play in host nation Pakistan, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Earlier this month, the ICC informed the Pakistan Cricket Board that India would not tour Pakistan for the eight-team tournament, leaving the fate of the event hanging in the balance.

The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field.

A spokesman for the ICC based in Dubai told AFP they could “confirm an ICC meeting on Friday” where the issue will be on the agenda, without providing further details.

The PCB has already rejected proposals that would allow India to play in a neutral third country, insisting the full schedule from February 19 to March 9 must be staged on their turf.

India’s cricket board has not commented on the tournament.

Deteriorating political ties mean bitter rivals India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series for over a decade — squaring off only in ICC multi-nation events.

Pakistan suffered a years-long drought of matches at home as teams refused to visit after a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore. International play only fully resumed in 2020.

When Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup, India’s matches were played outside the country.

But Pakistani cricket chiefs have rejected security fears for the Champions Trophy, pointing to their recent successful hosting of top teams including Australia, England, and South Africa.

The Champions Trophy will be the first ICC event staged in Pakistan since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.


Lewandowski hits Champions League century as Barca beat Brest

Updated 27 November 2024
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Lewandowski hits Champions League century as Barca beat Brest

  • It made Lewandowski only the third player to reach that milestone in the competition, behind former Barcelona great Lionel Messi, on 129, and former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, with 140

BARCELONA: Robert Lewandowski scored his 100th Champions League goal as Barcelona beat Brest 3-0 to climb provisionally second in the Champions League group standings on Tuesday.
The veteran striker slotted home from the spot in the 10th minute to fire the Catalans ahead and reach his milestone, adding a second late on after Dani Olmo’s goal to inflict the French side’s first defeat.
After dropping points in their last two outings in La Liga, coach Hansi Flick had urged his players to “eliminate” mistakes in their game and Barca produced a solid display.
They got off the mark quickly when Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot clumsily clattered into the back of Lewandowski after the forward controlled Pedri’s cross on his chest.
The striker dusted himself down and dispatched the penalty clinically to open the scoring after 10 minutes and bring up his century.
It made Lewandowski only the third player to reach that milestone in the competition, behind former Barcelona great Lionel Messi, on 129, and former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, with 140.
Under Flick, the forward’s form has improved significantly this season, reaching 22 goals in 19 appearances between La Liga and the Champions League.
The 36-year-old has made 125 Champions League appearances with Barcelona and before that German sides Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
“I am very happy, many years ago I did not think I could score more than 100 goals in the Champions League,” Lewandowski told Movistar.
“For me the most important thing is that we try to win every game, if I can score, then that’s the perfect solution.
“I don’t know how many games we have left before the end of the year but we have to win them all and rest over Christmas.”
Barcelona were still without teenage star Lamine Yamal, recovering from an ankle problem, but Raphinha was busy on the right and the Catalans dominated proceedings.
They did not create many clear chances though until Fermin Lopez forced a fine save from Bizot with a diving header.
The Dutch goalkeeper made amends for his earlier mistake by denying the Spaniard with his leg.
Lopez again came close early in the second half when Lewandowski put him in with a neat flick but Bizot was alert to save his low effort.
Playmaker Olmo had an effort scrambled off the line by Brendan Chardonnet as Barcelona sought to put the game to bed.
The former RB Leipzig midfielder eventually grabbed the second in the 66th minute when he received Gerard Martin’s pass in the box, showing some nifty footwork to dodge Chardonnet and beat Bizot at the near post.
Brest thumped RB Salzburg 4-0 and had dropped just two points from their first four matches despite sitting in mid-table in Ligue 1, but were brought down to earth at the Olympic Stadium.
Mathias Pereira Lage drilled home to momentarily delight nearly 3,000 traveling supporters but their joy was curtailed when the linesman raised his flag for offside.
Barca substitute Pablo Torre should have netted Barcelona’s third when he intercepted a pass with just the goalkeeper to beat, but fired wide.
Instead the job fell to Lewandowski and he rolled home his 101st Champions League goal with aplomb, beyond Bizot’s outstretched arm.
Brest fall a few places down the table but their strong start to the campaign means they are well placed to secure at least a play-off spot, while Barcelona are aiming to reach the last 16 directly.
Flick’s side travel to last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund next, before visiting Benfica and hosting Atalanta.