FC Barcelona is located in Catalonia where supporters regard the club as the "embodiment of Catalonia identity". Their away kit is based on the Catalonian flag, their supporters' communal singing is the Catalonian national anthem and at 17 minutes and 14 seconds into every match, the year that Catalonia was merged with Spain, there are shouts by the crowd of "independence".
At the weekend Las Palmas were due to visit the Nou Camp, during an independence referendum, sporting the Spanish flag on their kit to show their allegiance to their country. Tempers flared-where better to make a point?
To cancel the game would have cost Barca six points , so it went ahead behind closed doors. The home crowd reacted outside the stadium along with those not supporting football but interested in voting for Catalonian independence. Riot.
Below, Messi is spreading the word.
If Barca followed their traditional beliefs and left La Liga to play in the Catalonian League (should such a thing exist) they would only meet Espanyol, Girona and some local sides. Not playing Real Madrid regularly would serious affect Barca's status and economy.
If Catalonia did gain independence, then Barcelona playing in the Spanish National League would be regarded as hyprocritical-another country.
So have Berwick Rangers experienced such political, social and economic intrigue? The English club has opted to play in the Scottish League rather than travel hours to get to an equivalent English opposition every fortnight. There are many other football clubs that have chosen to play in a neighbouring country and if you can ignore the "other sports" in this link (although you might be interested in rugby, netball or basketball clubs) you will have abundant dinner party chit chat at hand.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sports_clubs_playing_in_the_league_of_another_country
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