dsr wrote:I think the Spanish authorties have ensured two things:

1. If this referendum is disrupted, they'll stick in an extra ballot paper to ask the question again next time they have a local election, which the government can't constitutionally stop;

2. Independence will win.

Imagine the result of the Scottish independence referendum if the UK government had sent in the troops to stop the Scots being allowed to vote. Or you don't even need to imagine how the Irish felt over the years when the British told them what to do. If you've got an independent race sitting there in the corner of your country, you can never make them like you by being nasty to you.

Actually, the Spanish know that anyway. Why do they think they're so unpopular in Gibraltar?

conyoviejo wrote:It's just a question of how long it will take for the Catalunians to obtain it ,as they will never give up their quest for independence..

dsr wrote:Any idea if French Catalonia has any similar ambitions? Or if Spanish Catalonia would want to merge?

conyoviejo wrote:No idea DSR,all I know is what I have been taught Spanish by people's who were from Catalunya (Barcelona) and were very staunch supporters of their independence ..

Sidney1st wrote:In regards to football I think they're 20 Catalan teams.

They have enough to make a league, but it would be interesting to see UEFA find a way to justify a CL spot for Barca.

If Catalan goes independent then yes Barca would be in a different country but I'd fully expect Fifa and Uefa to bend over for a solution.

Sidney1st wrote:How if they become an independent country?

People in England are split over letting Celtic or Rangers join English football and at what level.
(Personally at the very bottom of the ladder when I'm asked)

Clarets4me wrote:I fear alot of our younger posters will not recall that Spain was effectively ruled by an Army General, as a quasi Fascist state up until November 1975, when Franco died. Up until the mid 1970's, a women could not operate a bank account in Spain, without a father or husband countersigning their cheques..

conyoviejo wrote:Have a read of this Sidney


http://uk.businessinsider.com/barcelona ... ?r=US&IR=T" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sidney1st wrote:Basically suggesting money talks.

That's fine, but if Barca would be allowed in then we'd end up with Celtic and Rangers trying it on too.

The other alternative is if Barca are without a league a European super league would be created reasonably quickly I think, it would be the ideal time to start it up.

Imploding Turtle wrote:I'm sure the wealth of Catalunya plays a part but i think a bigger impact is the precedent Catalan independence would set. There will be a worry that it would lead to the break up of the country with the Basque Country and the Galicians following suit along with any other region that decides "if they can be independent then so can we". So it's really about Spain's survival as the nation it is.

kicker_conspiracy wrote:It would be Celtic and Aberdeen if anything. Rangers were liquidated in 2012 and the Sevco version is on the cusp of insolvency.

Sidney1st wrote:Usually the best way to set off a Rangers fan is to poke them about the lack of history their club has.

bfcjg wrote:The EU will see it as another crack in the foundation.

JohnMcGreal wrote:Will it though? I'm presuming that an independent Catalunya will still be seeking full EU membership, in the same way that an independent Scotland was.

Countries have broken up in the EU before and new independent states have joined again on their own. I don't think it will be a big problem for them.

Spain on the other hand...

IndigoLake wrote:I'm outside a school which is a poll station with my wife and her family. We feel we have a right to vote and will do our best to deny Spanish police from entering. Spain has refused that right and has been uncompromising when it comes to negotiations with Catalonia. People are trying to be peaceful but riot police are hitting men and women of all ages in the faces with the batons. They're at a school nearby now and then they'll be here I imagine.

IndigoLake wrote:I'm outside a school which is a poll station with my wife and her family. We feel we have a right to vote and will do our best to deny Spanish police from entering. Spain has refused that right and has been uncompromising when it comes to negotiations with Catalonia. People are trying to be peaceful but riot police are hitting men and women of all ages in the faces with the batons. They're at a school nearby now and then they'll be here I imagine.

Winstonswhite wrote:Whereabouts in Spain (Catalonia) are you Indigo?!

conyoviejo wrote:Wish you all the best mate.. Stay safe and I hope you get to vote

conyoviejo wrote:Loads of arrests and the police are using batons willy nilly on the Catalan folks ..Suppresion at its worst from the Spanish authorities.. Hope the Catalunians get enough people voting..

Right_winger wrote:What about the rule of law. Does that it matter anymore? The Spanish government has not allowed this vote to go ahead and it has the say. Those who are kicking up about it are effective declaring war. The Spanish have every right to go in hard.

Sidney1st wrote:If it's an illegal ballot then the Spanish are allowed to prevent it happening.

There shouldn't be violence though for no reason

Imploding Turtle wrote:So you think it's OK to make criminals out of people who are attempting to peacefully cast a ballot? What an attitude to have.

Imploding Turtle wrote:What kind of freedom loving country physically prevents people from visiting a voting booth and casting a vote? What kind of free and democratic country makes that a criminal act?

Even Iraq managed it better. You don't get violent in order to prevent people from voting, you just don't recognise the vote.

Right_winger wrote:When it's against the law yes these people are criminals. Blocking the police from their duties albeit peacefully is also illegal. There has to be a respect for the rule of law otherwise the world might as well be a free for all where it really is dog eat dog and natural selection prevails it that what you want IT?

Imploding Turtle wrote:What kind of freedom loving country physically prevents people from visiting a voting booth and casting a vote? What kind of free and democratic country makes that a criminal act?

Even Iraq managed it better. You don't get violent in order to prevent people from voting, you just don't recognise the vote.