As the battle for Catalonia’s independence continues, Catalan separatists have befriended a very powerful ally. Three days ago, FC Barcelona confirmed that the club is in full favor of a vote to secede from Spain. Instinctively this decision makes sense. Defender Gerard Pique, along with a majority of the starting eleven players all have ties to Catalonia whether it be family relatives or their homeland. As a Barcelona native, Pique has been said to have attended massive rallies in support of the referendum vote to be held on November 9th. Pro-Independence chants have become commonplace at Camp Nou, along with the Catalonian colors represented on a variant of the club’s jersey. Along with the players, President Josep Maria Bartomeu had been suspected to be in support of former FCB President Sandro Rosell’s firm stance against Spain.
From a moral, logical, and emotional perspective this move is completely beneficial to the essence and purity regarding the club’s values. With this in mind the fans should stay happy…as long as the team can still play matches. La Liga has informed FC Barcelona that they will be excluded from the league if Catalonia becomes a separate state. This would be a devastating blow to the club’s business. Unless a new league is formed, this could be a potential disaster for one of the world’s most popular clubs. Moreover, the political events involving the team could have a negative ripple effect across the entire European sports industry. It is evident that these events can and should shed some light on our essential question: “FC Barca, club or business?
Source:
FC Barcelona: Club or Business? 