Catalunya, the region that accounts for one-fifth of Spain’s economy, is locked in a battle for secession from the mother country, and the Spanish football league could be in for a shockwave if the issue is not resolved. The Spanish football league (LFP) President Javier Tebas said yesterday that Barcelona, would no longer be able to compete in the La Liga in if Catalunya get their independence.
Catalunya has been insisting for a separate state for many years now due to cultural and linguistic differences with the rest of the country. There was a failed meeting on Wednesday between the leader of Catalunya, Artur Mas, and the Spanish Prime Minister, but no compromise could be reached. The meeting was considered as something of a breakthrough but afterwards Mas told reporters that he would go ahead with a vote of independence in November, complaining that there was “no proposal on the part of the state to resolve this political conflict.” The central government in Madrid has vowed to block this vote, and the Catalunyan crisis is no nearer to reaching a solution.
Javier Tebas has rocked the boat further with the recent announcement of a Barcelona-free Spanish league, which has thrived for many years on the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Around 1.5m people had gathered in the streets of Barcelona in 2012 as part of a 'March of Independence' and popular demand for a separate state has only increased till then, but the expulsion of their club from the national league might just be collateral damage Catalunyans are not prepared to take.
Speaking to AS, Tebas said: "I don't like to speculate about impossibilities. Catalunya will always be Spain...If the Sports Act remains the same, they could not compete in our league. We would have to change the Sports Act...Barcelona could not compete in La Liga unless there is an inter-state agreement.”
Can Barcelona compete in another European league?
Clubs competing in other nations’ leagues is not unheard of, Monaco are one of the most successful clubs plying their trade in France because Monaco does not have a professional football league. Swansea City are a Welsh club playing in England. The Spanish league has also allowed a special provision to allow FC Andorra to play in Spain, something that could be a precedent in this case. Otherwise, the Spanish league will be losing much of its sheen. It is a worthy question to be asked whether Barcelona need La Liga more or whether La Liga needs them more.
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