We all know that FC Barcelona is called “Mes Que un Club” - which means More than a Club But do you know WHY?? Its good if you do, but dont feel down if you dont. Because heres some history lesson for you on it. So read it fully to know about it. How would it feel when you cant speak your own mother tongue? Ask the Catalans. Their mother tongue was and still is banned from all educational places, streets and even their own homes! Spain basically took over Catalonia, it was a free country before and they even had their own National football team. Their language was Catalan, and the only place they could speak Catalan language was in the Camp Nou afterwards. Camp Nou was not a football clubs ground back then, it was a relief camp - a home to those who were at war, beaten and wanted to desperately speak in their mother tongue! This is why FC Barcelona is called Mes que un club. Because its more than just a football club, because its everything that represents the people of Catalonia now. Its emotionally tied with them from within. Even though its been years since that incident, everyone of Catalonia still have a special attachment to Camp Nou. Catalans couldnt speak their language publicly anywhere at all because the fascists were everywhere, but they didnt have a presence in the Camp Nou on match days. FC Barcelona then turned into more than just a sports club, it turned into a symbol of the Catalans striving for independence, and the opposition against the Franco regime. Because Camp Nou was the only place where they can be themselves, the only place they could speak their own mother tongue - The Catalan language. For the Catalans, FC Barcelona is one of the most important icons of the Catalan national pride. It is also a symbol of resistance against the suppression they had to experience because of Francisco Franco, who was the Ruler of Spain. Soon after that, the Catalan language was banned, and they were forced to speak in another language. Spanish was being forcefully taught at every schools and colleges. A month after the beginning of the Spanish Civil War (July 1936 to April 1939), the team’s president that time, Josep Sunyol, was murdered by Franco’s soldiers on August 6, 1936. So many years have passed, but the Catalans still are emotionally attached to the Camp Nou. They still cherish the very structure with a mixture of freedom and independence. Camp Nou is not just a vast stadium, it’s their home - its where they feel free. It’s a heritage - a symbol of who they have always been and what they had to go through together. And that is why FC Barcelona is called More than a Club, because it is just that. Its not just about the game here, its about their identity. And knowing all that just makes me a bigger fan than I already was. I say it more proudly now that Yes, Im a Barcelona Fan and I’m Totally Proud of It.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 10:35:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015