Category Archives: Football

Some questions for an opponent of Catalan independence

91 Replies
Monday - 6 September 2010

Following on from June's 'Some Questions for a Catalan Independentist' , here are some questions I'd like to pose to those of you who are opposed to the idea of Catalonia becoming independent. These have been harder to for me to formulate for one simple reason: in a debate such as this one, the onus is really on those proposing change (in this case, the independentists) to explain why the rest of us should go along with their proposal. That said, I do feel that there are some questions which do deserve to be asked of those who oppose independence. From my experience in the real world, their arguments against independence often seem to be the most fallacious of all.

  1. If a suitable majority supported it, why shouldn't Catalonia be independent?
  2. How would you describe your stance against Catalan nationalism?
  3. Are you aware of the independentists' historical claims? Do you think they are inaccurate, or irrelevant?
  4. Do you think its possible that your position is the result of political media campaigns against independence?
  5. Do you oppose the independence of all 'nation' states, or is your opposition selective?
  6. Even though you oppose it, do you feel any empathy for those who genuinely  believe that their country isn't 'free' unless it's an independent state?
  7. What action would you take should Catalonia become independent?
  8. What action should Spain take to prevent Catalonia declaring independence?
  9. Do you think that Kosovo's independence from Serbia sets a legal precedent?
  10. Are there any conditions under which you'd accept Catalan independence (e.g. constitutional protection of Spanish speakers)?
  11. Should Catalonia become independent, would you insist that FC Barcelona be excluded from the LFP?
  12. Have you ever found yourself chuckling at the epithet 'Cataloonies' while strumming away to the old Iberian Notes blog? (You don't have to answer this one if you really don't want to).

And that's it for the moment. Let me know if you think I've missed out something really glaring. And do feel free to answer some or all of the questions for an independentist too.

Wow! FC Barcelona win the Champions League 2-0

3 Replies
Wednesday - 27 May 2009
Barça's victory celebrated
Barça's victory celebrated (From FC Barcelona.com)

What a fantastic evening! I must admit, I had my doubts… especially during the first 10 minutes. But Barça proved that they deserved the treble they've won. The game was, in my opinion, a thoroughly exciting affair. Manchester United played extremely well but failed to capitalise off the chances they had. The much-maligned Valdes also made sure that the shots on goal weren't… goals.

The two goals, from Eto'o and Messi, were both heart stoppers – and both were loaded with individual significance.

I can't really be bothered to write more now (I've sent an email to my Australian sisters, who each received a Messi shirt for Christmas), and frankly I'm in the mood for relaxing.

We couldn't have asked for more from what has been, arguably, the finest Barça team ever fielded.

Bona nit!

Barça 100, Real Madrid i Chelsea 0

1 Reply
Friday - 8 May 2009

OK. so that was never the real score… even divided by two. But FC Barcelona won a couple of matches in the last few days that deserve mention.

The first, I'll deal with quickly. Barça beat Real Madrid (and hopefully sealed the Liga title) last weekend, 2-6! It was a fantastic game which we enjoyed in the Pub On The Park (or possibly another pub on a park), which I enjoyed with way too much wine… but "it was class", as Mark E. Smith would have it.

The second, as the same Mark E. Smith would have it, was far more "English Chelsea fan, this is your last game!". The victory was almost Spartan, too. FC Barcelona beat Chelsea FC 1-1, scoring the away goal in the 93rd minute. The game was essentially bookended with goals, given that Chelsea scored in minute 9 with an amazing strike.

Gareth and I watched the game in the Penya Barcelonista de Cerdanyola del Vallès, also known as the Bar Grau (it also serves as headquarters of the Cerdanyola Chess Club and the Cerdanyola Pipe Smoking Association). I got there a pitiful 45 minutes before the game and found two stools left, which I guarded with my life until my compatriot arrived. I fought off honest requests for the extra seat along with various urchins trying to nick it from under my hand. We watched the game unfold, gasping in awe (true meaning of the word), as Essien scored a phenomenally great goal, then we waited and waited… and waited for Barça to get their act together.

We waited until the second half, which saw the majority of Norweigian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo's errors, including at least one certain penalty for Chelsea and an insane red card against Barça (not to mention what should have been a red card for Matt Damon Ballack). In fact we waited until around about the last possible moment. Barça had been building their attacks… Messi had stopped being useless and seemed to be looking for space… and then?

And then POUM! Andres Iniesta scored off a pass off useless Messi.

The Penya went mad. Seriously mad. Madder, even than when we watched Barça win there in 2006. Although there were three minutes to go, we were ecstatic. The Chelsea players were incandescent at the end of the game, obviously feeling that their cheating had got them nowhere. We cheered, hugged one another and jeered.

I joined in the Two Minutes' Hate directed at Drogba and the rest of them (though mainly Drogba). An old man pushed past in the human mass, as I swore at the Great Cheater. I almost saw the Chestnut Tree Café in his scared eyes. The anthem played on loudspeakers as we walked down the street into the evening.