Spain is embattled in regional political and cultural battles like never before, so on Saturday when Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao the two sides won’t just be representing the crests on their chests like normal. Instead, these two sides will be representing the two regions they come from.
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Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao got permission from the Spanish FA to wear changed kits for their clash at the famed Nou Camp, according to The Daily Mail.
For the first time, Barcelona will wear the ‘senyera’ strip at home. That strip is the yellow and red striped kit that represents the flag of Catalonia. According to the report, Barcelona wanted to wear the ‘senyera’ kits to honor the 300th anniversary of the fall of the city to the French in 1714.
Thursday was the celebration of Catalonia’s national day, and the movement to separate from Spain has gained momentum over the past few years. Yet, FC Barcelona have insisted all along that they aren’t mixing politics and football—despite many players being visible participants in the celebrations throughout the week.
Athletic Bilbao will also wear kits representative of the flag of its region, the Basque Country. They will be featuring green jerseys, white shorts and red socks.
Just like Catalonia, the Basque country has been an area for a large separatist movement in the past.
The reaction of other clubs, especially Real Madrid has been pretty harsh. It’s even come from the media in Madrid, with Alfredo Relano, the editor of AS, speaking out against the Spanish FA’s decision.
“Some at Barca say they don’t want to politicise the match. Well, if that was the club’s intention, Barca would play as Barca and Athletic as Athletic, as they’ve done for a century, and not Barca as Catalonia and Athletic as the Basque Country.”
The mixing of politics and soccer on Saturday wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened and it won’t be the last. However, it is interesting to see two clubs making such strong statements together.