INDEPENDENCIA! | FC Barcelona and the Catalan Society

INDEPENDENCIA! | FC Barcelona and the Catalan Society

By Quinn Shepherd

FC Barcelona, one of today’s most supported sports conglomerates, was originally founded in 1899 under a group of young foreigners living within Barcelona. Led by Joan Gamper, the club grew in popularity as sport swept across Europe, providing a burdened society with a new model for modern leisure. These origins instilled within the club a deep-rooted allegiance to a patriotic Catalan society, thus giving birth to the historic slogan “Mes Que un Club” coined by President Narcis de Carreras in 1968.

The motto “more than a club” expresses a commitment from FC Barcelona to the Catalan society whom for decades lived beneath a regime of dictatorship. Under these circumstances, FC Barca worked to defend the Catalan society from the persecution of its own language and culture. As time and repression continued, the club intensified this message in an effort to infuse a sporting passion within the country’s social and political affairs. In doing this FC Barcelona quickly became a symbol for national pride and anti-centralism. When democracy finally returned to Spain after the death of General Franco, the club maintained its social commitment as new opportunities for support arose.

Today FC Barcelona and the Catalan society still fight for independence in hopes of one day separating themselves from Spanish control. This feud is further fueled through the annual match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid titled “El Clasico”. Strong Catalan proponents have historically used this match as an opportunity to wave Catalan flags and chant “independencia!” in hopes of conveying their support for separatism. Ironically, however, this kind of a social-based decision would have interesting economic implications on a club of this size and popularity. This prompts the question: what is FC Barcelona’s main focus as a club- political or economic?

-Quinn Shepherd

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/board-members/detail/card/more-than-a-club

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history

Potential Pepsi Offer Keeps Money and Talent in Barcelona

Potential Pepsi Offer Keeps Money and Talent in Barcelona

By: Matthew Magill

FC Barcelona has had no lack of success in the past decade, with the Guardiola era being followed with a stellar 2014-2015 season that resulted in the crowning of the historic treble, winning La Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League titles. Lionel Messi, considered by many of his peers and fans alike as the greatest player of his generation, claimed his fifth Balloon d'Or award to be named FIFA's best player of 2015. The looming question is whether FC Barcelona's success can continue when privately owned clubs that resemble corporate businesses such as the English power houses of the Premier League are able to offer more lucrative deals for international stars like Lionel Messi.

Being one of the last football clubs owned by its members, Barcelona lacks the financial security that comes with public or private ownership. To continue the success of the FC Barcelona brand and to keep the club in the hands of its members, continued success on the pitch is necessary. For a team rivaled against financial giants such as Manchester United, this means keeping Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez on the team. A club owned by its members may have trouble providing the capital to do so. A reported sponsorship deal with Pepsi will provide more than enough funding to keep the talent in Barcelona.

The monumental €60 million deal proposed to place Pepsi on the center of the Barcelona uniform instead of Qatar, overshadows even the historically large Chevrolet deal with Manchester United. On the eve of another potential UEFA Champions League title, one of the most tremendous deals in shirt sponsorship history could provide the funds to keep Barcelona not only competitive, but a leader on the player transfer market. The deal would allow Barcelona to stay competitive with English Premier League teams who will be taking in sizable funds from the recent Sky Sports TV deal, allowing them to retain ownership of Lionel Messi and their most talented players.

However, one must raise the question; with this astonishing inflow of funds surpassing what Manchester United is receiving, is FC Barcelona's business model any different than the corporate models that depend on foreign sponsorship? Does this deal threaten or support ownership by members? 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2615235-barcelona-reportedly-eye-pepsi-shirt-sponsor-as-alternative-to-qatar-airways

Even the Clubs are Businesses

It's one thing to say that a football club is owned by its fans, it is another to observe it. FC Barcelona, the knight in shining armor for all that is glorious surrounding football fan-ownership, is commonly looked to for an example of a club where the fans really do own the club. Members get to vote, and can even run to be owner.

But can a born-and-bred Catalan who has been watching the club play since before he could walk ever seriously run the club? This article exposes the most recent election for what it really is: a formality to appease those hopeful fans while making sure the club is held by the privileged few.

Yes, members get to "vote" for the owner of the club, but with barriers to entry such as a 77 million euro deposit, it is clear that there is a significant void between candidates, and those seriously considered as fit to run the club.

http://www.espnfc.com/club/barcelona/83/blog/post/2516364/barcelona-elections-show-fan-ownership-not-what-it-seems

-Jordan Rodriguez