FC Barcelona is one of the greatest professional football game — no one calls itsocceroutside the U.S. — teams in the chronicle of the sport . conduce by the incomparable Lionel Messi , arguably the upright player in the game , FC Barcelona urge a fierce allegiance among its fans that ’s nearly inseparable fromSpanish politics . The ball club is based in Barcelona , the Washington of Catalonia , and the citizen there take the ball club ’s slogan " Més que un club " ( " More than a club " ) very earnestly . FC Barcelona ( Barça ) is indeed a more than a nightspot — it ’s a way of life and a symbolisation of Catalonian patriotism . How it came to fulfil this role is a enchanting one , particularly at this juncture in its history .
On Oct. 1 , Catalonia voted for independency from Spain . As more than 2 million Catalan citizen flock to polling station this preceding Sunday , they were met by riot police under orderliness from the Spanish political science to stop the voter turnout . trigger-happy clashes leftmore than 900 the great unwashed injured , only rachet up up the long - running political tautness between the Catalan region and the central government .
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy refused to recognise the " unconstitutional " vote , in which 90 percent of Catalan voters opt independency , according to Catalan officials , but just40 percent of registered voter took part . Thousands of residents of Barcelona contract to the street for days of protest and oeuvre strikes . That included FC Barcelona , which halted all sports activities on Oct. 3 , two twenty-four hour period after it was forced to play a game " behind closed door " — mean no fans in attendance — as police force clashed with separatist objector out of doors .
For the the great unwashed of Catalonia , who have gall under Spanish prescript for 100 , the team is a living symbol of Catalan pridefulness , and inter - league rivalries with team like Real Madrid can experience like mini civic war play out on the soccer pitch .
Hometown crowds at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona often break into cries of " Independencia ! " at the17 minute 14 2d mark , as they did during a 2012 secret plan against Real Madrid , shown below . The yr 1714 was the datethat Catalonia lostits last great war of independence against the Kingdom of Castille .
Ironically , the team that is so tight connect with Catalan identity was actually founded by a foreigner , Swiss - born Hans Gamper , in 1899 with the living of Swiss , German and British expats , plus some local footballers . In its early year , FC Barcelona was mostly known for signing alien role player , while its crosstown rival , Espanyol , was fielded almost exclusively by Catalan thespian .
But the role of Barça as Catalonia ’s " national " squad was cemented during the political upheaval leading to the Spanish Civil War in 1936 . In 1935 , a wealthy Catalan lawyer and politico namedJosep Sunyolwas elect President of the United States of the Futbol Club Barcelona . As a big left-wing political frame in Catalonia , Sunyol was an ardent counselor-at-law of using football to send on the suit . Years before , he set up a Barcelona newsprint La Rambla , with the motto " Esport i Ciutadania"or " Sports and Citizenship " and pen vituperative editorials attacking the right - extension government in Madrid .
When the Spanish Civil War broke out between pro - Republic leftists and the fascistic force lead by General Francisco Franco , Sunyol stood his political earth as Chief Executive of FC Barcelona . Several players bring together the ranks of the leftist . In August 1936 , Sunyol and some compatriot drive to the front in the Sierra de Guadarrama tidy sum to show support for the Republican fighters , butaccidentally crossed into enemy territory . When they greeted a fascistic military checkpoint with a cry of " Viva la Republica ! " they were pulled from the elevator car and killed on the spot .
" Sunyol ’s death is now see as the truly defining moment of the club , the blasphemy of an political theory in bud , of cultural separatism , independency , the right wing to autonomy , " writes Phil Ball in " Morbo : The Story of Spanish Football . "
The fascist won the Civil War and Franco was installed as a military dictator who prevail from Madrid , ruthlessly driven to purge Spain as a Castilian Carry Amelia Moore Nation . The Catalan language was banned — as was Euskera , the Basque language to the west — as well as any public celebrations of Catalan culture , nutrient , dance , art and story . With the martyrdom of Sunyol sassy in their memory board , the people of Catalonia threw all their internal pride behind FC Barcelona .
After the Civil War , indite Ramón Spaaj in " Understanding Football Hooliganism , " " FC Barcelona became the symbol of an oppressed nation . " Its fans even lashed out at local Barcelona rivals Espanyol , who had take to write their name " Español " in the Castilian dash , which was " hugely provocative , " writes Spaaj .
Whether Espanyol deserved it or not , its players and fans were accuse by the Barça faithful as being functionaries of the fascist centralist governing in Madrid .
" Despite their geographic proximity , Espanyol and FC Barcelona have come in to symbolize two diametrically counterbalance social , cultural and political conceptions , " compose Ball , " Catalanism versus Anti - Catalanism , Anti - Spanishness versus Spanishness , and integration versus non - integration . "
The passion of the fissiparous protester take to the streets of Barcelona is undeniable , but it ’s unclear whether Catalonia will successfully die from Spain , or what berth it would have as Europe ’s immature nation . It ’s also undecipherable what issue Catalan independence would have on FC Barcelona , which play in La Liga , the highly free-enterprise ( and staggeringly moneymaking ) Spanish pro football league . If Barcelona is no longer part of Spain , can they still playact in the Spanish league ?
At a crush group discussion Wednesday , FC Barcelona President of the United States Josep Maria Bartomeu said that if independency is succeed , the panel of directors would consider moving the squad to one of Europe ’s other top league , like the Premier League in the U.K.,adding , " This situation does not live so far … It would be something to analyze calmly . "
The social club is also go to be one of the 11 " non - political brass " that will be part of a commission to correct the issues between Catalan leaders and the Spanish government . But at this point , it ’s difficult to have sex how the political standoff will terminate .
