Adiós, La Liga
September 27th marks the date regional elections will be held here in Catalonia and that could mark a turning point in European football for one of Spain's elite teams, FC Barcelona. The people that live in Catalonia have been wanting separation from Spain for the longest time. The last time this region has its freedom from the rest of the country was 1714 which is why they chant for their independence every home FC Barcelona game in the 17th minute. Recent news has surfaced about what would happen if the region got what it wants and it does not look good for their beloved soccer team.
According to the President of the Spanish league and the sports minister, Barcelona would not be able to compete in La Liga if they were to establish independence from Spain. On top of that, Miguel Cardenal made it clear the team would not be a strong force anywhere in European football. The team itself is more of a business drawing in an absurd number of viewers every game which means a lot of revenue for FC Barcelona. If they were to be kicked out of La Liga that would be devastating and crippling to the revenue they bring in and that alone would prevent them from being a super power. It is surprising that this idea has made it thus far but reports say that the Spain's constitution would never let this happen as well as La Liga letting one of their biggest teams go but it has made it this far so we could only wait for the results and see what the future of FC Barcelona holds.
Would La Liga be willing to let go one of its top two clubs/revenue earners?
Could FC Barcelona, if Catalonia became independent, still compete at a high caliber in La Liga if allowed to play in the league?
Barca fans waving the "estelada" the flag of Catalonia.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3243745/Barcelona-excluded-La-Liga-Catalonia-gains-independence-Spain-warns-league-president-Javier-Tebas.html
I would say it is more propaganda then anything else. They did win the Champions League last year, making them the best team in Europe followed by FIFA Club World Cup, making them the best team in the world.
ResponderEliminarI feel like it would be really difficult for La Liga to completely let FC Barca go. They have been a dominant power house for years and their fan base is huge. So even if Barcelona declared independence from Spain, I would feel like it would be impossible to completely forget about Barca.
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ResponderEliminarObviously La Liga would not be "willing" to let FC Barca go, but would they have a choice? If they do have the choice, then I believe they would and should keep the team. Clearly FC Barca is not only bringing in revenue for Barcelona, but is also a major asset to have (sponsorships, players, fan base) to La Liga.
ResponderEliminar-Darcy Horn
I think letting FC Barca go would be a big mistake, I also don't necessarily believe that La Liga will actually let them go because that would be a huge loss not only to FC Barca but La Liga as well as they are one of the best teams in the world. They also have to be understanding of the history of the Catalan culture and understand where these players are coming from. - Daniel Dzhurayev
ResponderEliminarFrom the limited knowledge I have on the topic, it seems to me that FCB might have more leverage in this situation considering La Liga can't survive without them. El classico (FCB vs. Real Madrid) is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. It is super bowl caliber. FCB is engrained in the minds of everyone when they think of La Liga. If they go, that's the downfall of the league. I do not see why they would not be able to compete at a high level if Catalonia became independent. They have arguably the top three players in the world on their team.
ResponderEliminarThis post reminds me of my favorite sport, basketball, where the same teams have been consistently dominant for many years in a row, however now, with new young talent, teams that have never been in championship contention before seemingly are. The traditional powerhouses such as the Los Angeles Lakes, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics are no longer big contenders, while the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers continue to emerge as favorites. From this article, it is interesting to think about when the reign of FCB and Real Madrid will end, and when big name players will choose to play elsewhere rather than in La Liga. It is just a matter of time, and money of course.
ResponderEliminarI would have to agree with all of your comments, FC Barcelona is a vital asset in La Liga and I do not see them letting them go even if somehow Catalonia were to get its independence. I do like your references to the NBA though Harry, quite interesting and I agree with you completely. All great teams have their cycle of dominance but someone will come along and knock them down from their tower. -Connor Butler
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