La Liga president: Barcelona to be kicked out if Catalonia secedes
La Liga's president said Tuesday that Barcelona and Espanyol will be kicked out of La Liga if Catalonia becomes independent from Spain, according to the Associated Press.
The president, Javier Tebas, said Catalan clubs such as those will be axed from La Liga if the region successfully secedes, and that Spain's sports law allows only one non-Spanish territory, Andorra, to legally be in the league.
• UEFA suspends Italy FA president for racist remark
Catalonia's pro-independence government has been fighting for a referendum to see how many of its citizens would want to secede.
According to the AP, Spain's parliament "overwhelmingly opposes" the plan, and vetoed a request to hold a referendum in April. However, Catalonia has scheduled a non-binding referendum for Nov. 9.
Tebas said that for clubs from an independent Catalonia to be included in La Liga would require "a modification of the law" that would have to be approved by parliament.
• STRAUS: As Donovan bids farewell, USA's future beckons
Tebas also called the potential ramifications of a La Liga split "a disaster to the development of the football industry."
- Molly Geary
