Spanish Football League (LFP) President Javier Tebas "spoke about the repercussions of the hypothetical case whereby
Catalonia becomes an independent state," saying, "Barcelona and Espanyol would
not play in the Spanish league if Catalonia split from Spain," according to MARCA. A referendum on the issue is scheduled for Nov. 9. Tebas explained, "They wouldn't do so for the following reasons: the current
legislation on sport dictates that there is only one non-Spanish state
that may play in la Liga or in official Spanish competitions and that is
Andorra. To change this, changes would have to be made in Parliament
and we would have to see if the affected party were in agreement or
not" (MARCA, 10/7). In Madrid, Jordi Quixano reported Tebas said, "I can't imagine the LFP without Barça, just as I cannot imagine Catalonia without Spain, and neither can I imagine La Liga without Barça." On what "that would mean socially and economically," Tebas said, "La Liga would lose so much without Barça" (EL PAIS, 10/7). In Barcelona, Francesc Aguilar wrote the comments by Tebas "have put the subject back on the table." In fact, "in an ultra secret manner, Barcelona has studied the different scenarios that could arise since Sandro Rosell was the club's president." The political subject "would no doubt enormously complicate the football solution, which would be easier to reach." Under Spain's current legislation, if Catalonia obtains independence, Barcelona "would only be able to compete in a Catalan league." In the "athletic aspect, UEFA's current rules do not allow a club from a member federation to compete in another championship, with the exception of clubs with historic rights, as is the case in Andorra and with the Welsh clubs (Swansea and Cardiff) that compete in the EPL." Another "interesting aspect to highlight would be the situation that Barcelona's Catalan players would face." If Catalonia gains independence, those players "would be able to choose whether to continue playing for Spain or to play for the Catalan national team" (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 10/7).
