Gabriel Rufián (ERC) and Xavier Trias (Junts) have shown their support for the Spanish national team in the World Cup final against Argentina, while Miriam Nogueras and Sílvia Orriols distance themselves. The debate reopens the sovereignist fracture regarding national teams.
The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina has brought to light the contradictions within the Catalan independence movement regarding the Spanish national team. While some leaders do not hesitate to cheer for la roja, others advocate for Catalan teams and reject any connection with the state team.
Explicit support for the Spanish national team
The former mayor of Barcelona Xavier Trias (Junts) was clear on the programme Cafè d'Idees: “Yes, if they are all mine,” he stated when asked if he supported Spain. In the same vein, the ERC spokesperson in Congress, Gabriel Rufián, declared from the corridors of the Chamber: “May Spain win, I do not hide.” Rufián justified his stance by recalling that “there are eight Catalan players” (actually there are nine).
The president of Barça, Joan Laporta, travelled to Dallas to “support the Spanish national team.” Additionally, a video from the Spanish Federation went viral in which Laporta applauds a “Viva España” from Iker Casillas before the semifinal against France. These displays of support contrast with the official discourse of their parties, which advocate for the creation of a separate Catalan team.
Those who distance themselves: “I do not support Spain”
On the other end, Junts MP Miriam Nogueras was blunt on Twitter: “I do not support Spain.” In statements to El matí de Catalunya Ràdio, she added: “Catalans have every right in the world to have a team, but the Spanish state does not let us play.” The leader of Aliança Catalana, Sílvia Orriols, also rejected supporting the Spanish national team.
ERC MP Francesc Marc Álvaro considered it a “self-goal” to celebrate la roja as something merely “sentimental,” as, according to him, it responds to the “logic of symbolic monopoly” that prevents the existence of teams like the Catalan one. The president of ERC, Oriol Junqueras, dodged the question at an event in Madrid with a: “I’m sure Barça will win.” Meanwhile, the general secretary of Junts, Jordi Turull, stated that he supports “the Catalan team” and does not even believe he will watch the final.
Giant screens and municipal controversy
The dispute has also moved to local councils. In Sant Andreu de la Barca, governed by ERC, Mayor Marc Giribet announced a free screen only if Spain plays, a decision that contrasts with ERC's request three months ago for Barcelona not to install screens after racist incidents at the RCDE Stadium. The same formula will be repeated in Manresa (ERC) and in Vilaseca and Martorell (Junts).
In Sabadell, the former president of the Parliament and the ANC, Carme Forcadell, has criticized the City Council (PSC) for setting up screens to watch Spain and not doing so when CE Sabadell was promoted. The independentist coalition Acció per Sabadell has labelled the measure as “Spanishising” and has called for normalising Catalan teams.
The debate is not limited to Catalonia. In the Basque Country, EH Bildu has called on citizens to take to the streets wearing shirts of the Basque team, and the lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, has reiterated that he is “for the Basque team, period.” The war of the screens and the statements highlight that the relationship with the Spanish team remains a thermometer of the sovereignist fracture.
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