Catalan Ties

Hans Gamper and the other ten founding men envisioned this club as not just a team, but a democratic organization rooted in inclusivity and social integration that reflected and supported Catalan identity. During periods of political repression, such as under Francisco Franco’s dictatorship, Barça served as a rare and vital outlet for Catalan expression. The stadium became a space where fans could speak Catalan, wave the Catalan flag, and assert their regional identity in defiance of the central government’s attempts to suppress it. Through its history, values, and loyal supporters, FC Barcelona has become a living representation of Catalonia’s struggle for recognition and self-determination—earning it the motto, “Més que un club” (“More than a club”).