Despite threats of expulsion from the Spanish Primera Division by La Liga president if the community of Catalonia emancipates from Spain, Barcelona have gone ahead and thrown their support behind the region's referendum for freedom.
"If this goes through, then both clubs [Barcelona and Espanyol] would not be allowed to play La Liga matches.” This is what Javier Tebas had to say about the matter of the region's secession, with Real Madrid attacker Karim Benzema even urging the Camp Nou side to remain in Liga BBVA, insisting Los Blancos “need” their long-time rivals.
The courts in Spain have ruled any referendum for independence will be deemed illegal, but the regional government went ahead with their plans nonetheless.
With polls showing most of Catalonia's 7.5m population are in favor of independence, Barcelona announced in an official statement on their website that the club have signed a national pact for self-determination, claiming to be “one of the first institutions to declare it was in favour of the right to decide”.
Barca announce via their official website that they have signed a national pact for self-determination
"FC Barcelona have signed the Catalan national pact for self-determination. FC Barcelona formalised their adhesion in a formal letter from president Josep Maria Bartomeu to the pact co-ordinator Joan Rigol.
"The pact brings together over 3,500 organisations and associations from a wide spectre range of social and political positions which endorse the Catalan people's right to self-determination."
Winners of the first ever La Liga title, the Spanish top-flight knows nothing of life without Barcelona. Since the league's establishment back in 1929, the four-time Champions League have never been relegated, becoming a constant presence over the last 85 years. However, this could come to an end if Catalonia gain independance, with Espanyol also facing the boot.
NO MORE LA LIGA FOR BARCA: The Catalan giants are facing Liga BBVA expulsion if their region secedes from Spain
