Spain's Catalonian Takeover May Save Barça's Future

Every generation probably believes they live in uncertain times, but this is different.

These days, crazy times comes to mind.

Take what happened with the Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin.

A protest in an American sports league with only a small following in Germany goes viral, and they feel a need to express sympathy before a recent match with Schalke:

On another front, it's discovered and confirmed that Russian troll farms are working to divide American and Western European citizens into warring tribes.

In the immortal words of another legendary American football coach:

There are three Catalan clubs in La Liga:

• Barcelona FC,
• RCD Espanyol, and
• Girona FC.

When Generalissimo Francisco Franco's dictatorship ended in Spain, the democracy that followed and continues to this day approved a constitution that guaranteed a degree of autonomy to its 17 regions.

The Canary Islands comprise the 17th.

Catalonia is one of the richest regions, complete with a distinct culture and language like most of the others have. Its argument is it's giving more to the federation than it's receiving, and a movement has grown to secede.

We wish.

But that's why we're reviewing all this, so we can understand why El Clásico may be in jeopardy if Catalonia secedes.

The Catalan leaders have asked if they can join the European Union if they become independent. However, the EU has refused on the grounds that if they allow it, other regions in other nations will no doubt follow.

The Basque region of Spain and France would definitely move forward. It's likely the two regions of Belgium -- Wallonia and Flanders -- would be strong candidates, too.

It could create chaos, like much of European history has experienced.

The Spanish constitution has a clause -- Article 155 -- that enables the federal goverment to take control of any region that tries to break away. The prime minister is ready to invoke it and has asked the Catalans to confirm their intentions.

Who knows how Catalans might react if a takeover occurs?

This crisis has already affected Barcelona FC. They had a home match on the same day as the Catalans held an independence referendum vote. Incidents happened at the polls, so to be safe, Barça played its match behind closed doors.

It's odds-on if Catalonia finds a way to gain independence that La Liga will follow EU policy and ban their region's football teams.

Yes, Barça is rich, powerful, and traditional. But as we can see, nobody's in the mood to compromise. Plus, not including the other two Catalan sides in any inclusion arrangement would surely create another complication.

The Blaugrana made short work of lowly Málaga tonight ...

 

It wasn't their best effort, but this is understandable. Their minds were probably not totally on the match. The federal government is ready to move on the Catalans.

For all we know, Barça's status itself may ultimately be a bargaining chip in what happens next.

None of this is cool. But it is real. Very real.

Solutions are surely there. We simply need leaders -- everywhere -- who are strong enough to find them.