Spain is in the midst of a tense political stand-off that could potentially alter the complexion of the country after the government of Catalunya defiantly voted in favour of independence from Spain.
On October 27, the Catalan government voted to officially declare independence from Spain, but Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy responded within minutes by imposing direct rule on the region. It is the latest development in a protracted disagreement and it comes nearly a month after a contentious referendum on the matter.
The Spanish state warned that the referendum was in contravention of the constitution and that it is actually illegal, but that did not diminish the appetites of those within the region who are seeking change. The people of Catalunya pressed ahead and, controversially, it was met with physical opposition from the Guardia Civil, which has served to further fan the flames of discord within Spain.
Given its centrality to life in Catalunya, football has not escaped the quagmire and Barcelona's La Liga match with Las Palmas, which took place on the same day as the referendum, was played behind closed doors at Camp Nou because league authorities refused to postpone the game.
In recent years, in particular, Barcelona fans have not been shy about showing where their allegiance lies, frequently flying Catalan flags at games - an act which has oddly landed them in trouble with football authorities in the past - and many figures within the club are firmly in the pro-independence camp.
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With the referendum taking place under a shroud of controversy, questions have been raised regarding the position of Barcelona and how the club could be affected by independence. Goal takes a look at the potential ramifications.
HOW WILL INDEPENDENCE AFFECT BARCA?
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As with any step into new territory, we do not know for certain how Catalan independence will affect Barcelona, but there are a number of potential knock-on effects that have prompted intriguing discussions in football circles.
Expulsion from La Liga?
For example, one such notional outcome is that Barcelona would no longer be allowed to compete in La Liga, the competition it helped to found back in 1929. La Liga president Javier Tebas has been quick to pour cold water over the idea that Barca would simply retain its place in Spain's flagship competition in the event of Catalan independence. Indeed, Barcelona would not be the only club affected by such a decision, with the likes of Girona and Espanyol among the Catalan football teams competing nationally.
"In sport, it isn't a la carte and things must be clearly stated," Tebas told Marca. "It isn't easy to have an agreement and study Spanish legislation but if they (Catalan clubs) do get that, then they will not be able to play in Spain's La Liga, but I hope it doesn't come to that."
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Tebas contends that exclusion from La Liga would undoubtedly see Barcelona slip from the top table of European football, citing the lucrative television rights deal as one area that would be different. Naturally, as the head of La Liga, Tebas is defending the integrity of the competition he leads, so his comments on the matter are inherently tinged with bias, but it remains to be seen whether his words have true weight.
However, considering the financial repercussions associated with the enforced removal of Catalan clubs from La Liga - it would mean an end to the traditional Clasico against Real Madrid - it is entirely conceivable that a compromise could be reached that benefits all parties involved.
What other leagues could Barca play in?
The immediate alternative to La Liga would theoretically see the restoration of a Catalan league involving the likes of Barcelona, Espanyol, Girona and others. There are already a number of Catalan leagues under the umbrella of Spanish football that are administered by the FCF (Catalan Football Federation).
However, since this would be a new competition in the eyes of UEFA, it would mean an all new country coefficient, which would subsequently affect qualification for tournaments such as the Champions League and Europa League. Instead of having an automatic place, for example, teams would be forced to navigate the qualifying rounds.
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If that prospect is not enticing enough, former Prime Minister of France, Manuel Valls, suggested back in 2015 that Barcelona could play their football in Ligue 1 should Catalunya succeed in gaining independence from Spain. Valls, who was born in Barcelona, told Journal du Dimanche: "Monaco play in Ligue 1, so why not Barcelona?"
Given that a number of clubs across Europe already do not play in their native leagues - Welsh club Swansea City in the Premier League, for example - such an outcome certainly has precedent, but it would inevitably be subject to a long bureaucratic process requiring a litany of proverbial green lights.
Of course, even if authorities such as FIFA, UEFA and the LFP approved such a move, that does not necessarily mean that it would be a cordial diplomatic transition. Clubs, supporters and communities would have every right to oppose.
It was even suggested that Barcelona could end up in the Premier League, which would be an incredible coup for the English top flight, already the richest and most popular league competition in football. However, not everyone is convinced, with Arsene Wenger suggesting that Scottish clubs would be ahead of the Catalan side in the queue to enter.
Could Lionel Messi leave?
As the clashes over the Catalan independence vote intensified in the lead-up, a report emerged in Don Balon suggesting that Lionel Messi could leave the club in the wake of a Yes vote. However, there is currently no reason to believe that the Argentine would dart for an exit simply because of the composition of the political landscape.
Nevertheless, if one takes into consideration Tebas' aforementioned argument that Barca would cease to be one of the top clubs in Europe, the case for a Messi exit becomes stronger. The club would, in theory, struggle to attract the best players in the world if they were not virtually guaranteed elite-level football and the associated prestige, not to mention financial might.
WHO SUPPORTS CATALAN INDEPENDENCE?
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The club itself is clearly sympathetic to the Catalan independence movement and spoke out against the treatment of those who were agitating for a vote, stressing that it "will continue to support the will of the majority of the Catalan people".
After the heavy-handed police response that marred attempts to stage a referendum, the club took part in a 'standstill' protest on Monday and also observed the subsequent Catalunya-wide strike, called for by Table for Democracy.
A host of individuals associated with Barcelona, past and present, have also indicated their support for Catalan independence, but no one has been more vocal than Pep Guardiola. Speaking at a rally in June, the Manchester City manager, who previously played for and managed Barcelona, called on "the international community" to support the movement.
"We have tried on 18 occasions to reach an agreement on a referendum and the answer has always been no," Guardiola said. "We have no other option but to vote. We call on the international community to support us and on democrats the world over to help us to defend the rights that are threatened in Catalunya, such as the right of freedom of expression and the right to vote."
Current Barca player Gerard Pique is another individual who is fiercely proud of his Catalan identity, regularly posting Twitter updates in Catalan and occasionally showing his support for the region. Indeed, the defender's position on the matter has even led to calls for him not to be selected for Spain's national team, with ex-Barca and Real Madrid striker Alfonso Perez among those to express the view. Piqu was visibly upset by the Spanish government's response to the referendum and even offered to retire from national team duty.
WILL INDEPENDENCE AFFECT THE SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM?
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Should Catalunya secede from Spain to become an independent, autonomous state, then that would theoretically have a huge impact on the Spain national team, since national team eligibility is governed chiefly by nationality.
Once the dust settled, issues such as citizenship would have to be legislated for and we simply do not know how such a scenario would play out. If Catalan citizens were also deemed to be Spanish nationals, then Spain could theoretically select players from the region. If there was no extension of Spanish nationality, it would mean that Catalan players would not be allowed to play for La Roja, but it may not be so clear-cut.
Interestingly, a Catalunya national team already exists, with native players such as Pique, Guardiola, Xavi, Carles Puyol and Cesc Fabregas lining up for the autonomous region in friendly games over the years. It is not affiliated with UEFA or FIFA though, meaning that it cannot compete in competitions such as the European Championship or the World Cup. However, that could change in the event of independence.
There are a number of examples of 'new' countries forming national teams and going on to compete in UEFA and FIFA competitions, with Kosovo and Gibraltar being two of the most recent examples. It is not always straightforward, though, and requires a vote, which could easily be opposed by Spain, who notably attempted to prevent Gibraltar from becoming a member of UEFA.
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