A man walks past a banner during a march organized by pro-Basque independence organization Gure Esku Dago (In Our Hands) in favor of a planned referendum on the independence of Catalonia, in Bilbao, Spain, Reuters
CAIRO – 27 October 2017: Barcelona football team flies to Basque Country to meet their giants, Athletic Bilbao, on Saturday in the Spanish League, in a game totally affected by the political situation in Catalonia.
Barcelona plays their first game after the Catalan parliament declared independence from Spain on Friday. The game will accidentally be played at one of the Spanish regions that claimed independence.
Catalans and Basques fought together in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s against General Franco's army, which represented the Spanish government. Franco won the war and killed the revolution.
People walk past signs reading, Congratulations Catalonia. Now The Basque Country in the Basque country, Reuters
Basque country and Catalonia suffered under Franco’s command, as they were prevented from using their local languages and raising their flags, but after Franco’s death, they started to regain many rights.
Barcelona and Bilbao fans booed the Spanish national anthem many times before, especially in the 2011 and 2015 Spanish Cup finals in the presence of the Spanish royal family.
Barcelona would be affected by the political situation, as Spanish Football Federation President Javier Tebas announced that the Catalan clubs will be excluded from Spanish competitions if Catalonia announces independence.
Comments
Leave a Comment