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Barcelona will not be eligible to play in La Liga if Catalonia votes for independence

But let’s get real – they’re not going to ban one of the world’s biggest clubs.

BARCELONA AND ESPANYOL will be ineligible to play in La Liga if Catalonia becomes an independent country, Spanish FA president Javier Tebas claimed.

A referendum will be held on 9 November, with potentially destructive results for the 22-time Spanish champions Barca and neighbours Espanyol.

LFP president Tebas said a Yes vote would make the two clubs’ participation in the Spanish top flight illegal.

But he accepted that the law could be changed to avoid that nightmare scenario.

“Barcelona and Espanyol would not play in the Spanish League if Catalonia becomes independent for the following reason: the Sports Act has an additional provision that only one non-Spanish state can play in La Liga or official Spanish competitions, and that is Andorra,” Tebas told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.

For the Catalan clubs to to continue post-independence, “there would need to be a change in parliament and we’d need to see if the affected industry would agree or not,” Tebas added.

On the issue of match-fixing, Tebas confirmed the LFP were investigating a fixture between Elche and Malaga – one of six matches under the microscope.

“I have not believed what has been said for some time now. I think it’s been increasingly evident in recent times,” Tebas said.

Some dressing rooms are taking extreme weight from above. I don’t know if Spanish football is prepared to see a player go to jail for a year, but there will definitely be penalties, just like the ones you see in other countries.

“We are investigating the Elche-Malaga game, but this one is a little different. We are looking at two [or] three players from the Malaga team but we’re not sure about Elche yet.

“For the last four years, we’ve got six games that we’re investigating.

“People want us to have a clean game. I haven’t received a call from any manager who has taken issue with what we’re planning to do.”

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    Mute Kieran Woods
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    Oct 8th 2014, 10:37 AM

    I think Real Madrid would get the rules changed when the Spanish state breaks up

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    Mute Rob O'Hanrahan
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    Oct 8th 2014, 10:44 AM

    I bet Celtic were praying for a Yes vote back in September.

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Oct 8th 2014, 11:47 AM

    Rules just seem to change for Barcelona all the time…..

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Oct 8th 2014, 1:09 PM

    Liverpool fan?2005/2006 Champions League……..

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    Mute Eddie O'Mahony
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    Oct 8th 2014, 1:33 PM

    Good point, well made!

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    Mute Peter Pan
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    Oct 8th 2014, 1:59 PM

    Except it’s not possible to have a tournament without the defending champions in it so common sense prevailed. The 2006 champions league would have meant nothing with out them.

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Oct 8th 2014, 3:20 PM

    Its not possible?why not?

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Oct 8th 2014, 5:13 PM

    Rules were not changed, the holders have ALWAYS been allowed to defend. Since the format changed, it was not anticipated that the holders would finish that far down, as also happened to Chelsea, it was just a logistical challenge for UEFA, so even though your point may appear to be well said, it is totally mute. Before the CL format was introduced, it was known as the European Cup, for the record.

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Oct 8th 2014, 11:31 PM

    Bullshite……they changed the rule over that summer that the holders must be allowed play in the following tournament…….look it up.they conveniently didnt have the problem of 5 English teams in the group stages because Pierluigi Collina robbed Everton blind in the qualifier v Villarreal

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    Mute Peter Pan
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    Oct 8th 2014, 1:57 PM

    I’m sure the French league would be happy to take them

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    Mute ronan murray
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    Oct 8th 2014, 10:44 AM

    Good ploy to keep hold of Catalonia! They cant afford to lose this

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    Mute Donal Ring
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    Oct 8th 2014, 10:41 PM

    The club has been very careful not to be overtly in support of independence but if Catalonia breaks away after a lot of bitterness then both sides of the argument would be in an awkward position.

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