Episode 4: FC Barcelona. More than a club. The dark side of FC Barcelona.

Synopsis: FC Barcelona, famous for its motto “Més que un club”, has a history that goes beyond its victories on the pitch and its image as a symbol of Catalan resistance. In this episode, we explore a lesser-known side of the club: from its financial ties to dictatorships and controversial decisions, to its ambiguous relationship with Franco’s regime. Beneath the surface of its sporting and ethical values, we discover a complex web of interests that reveals that, at times, the “Més que un club” is murkier than it seems. Spoiler alert: Barça is not always as heroic as the Camp Nou makes it out to be!

More than a club: The dark side of FC Barcelona

The motto “More than a club” It is a mantra that FC Barcelona wears on its shirt as a symbol of pride and resistance. But, like a good thriller, there is a downside to this story. Let's dive into the club's less brilliant episodes: from uncomfortable relations with dictatorships to financial scandals that could make Messi reconsider whether his departure was for something more than football.

Francoism and the myth of resistance

It has been said a thousand times that Barça was the banner of the Catalan resistance against Franc. But not everything is so clear. Yes, the Catalans saw in the club a way to stand up to the regime, but, in 1957, when the Camp Nou needed urgent funding, it was the Franco government that gave a little help. What a contradiction, eh! And to top it all off, in 1971, Franc was appointed honorary president of BarçaIf this isn't the villain being applauded on the red carpet, I don't know what is.

And what about the famous 11-1 against Real Madrid in 1943? Legend has it that the Barça players were “motivated” by Francoists before the match. Imagine that! A technical talk with more threats than tactics. No one has been able to confirm it, but it is a story that makes that rout sting more than the sun in August.

Business with dictators: Uzbekistan and Libya

Barca have not only played well on the pitch, they have also made some strange moves on the political front. In 2009, they signed a multi-million pound deal with Gulnara Karimova, daughter of the Uzbek dictator. Come on, it's as if Barça had done a tiki-taka with one of the worst violators of human rights in the world. Result? The contract was very lucrative, but the reputation was damaged.

And if that wasn't enough, in 2003 they decided to play a friendly in Libya against the team of Al-Saadi Gaddafi. Because, of course, what could go wrong when aligning yourself with the Gaddafi family? Spoiler alert: the club's reputation was put on the back burner.

The scandal of international academies

The famous ones Barça Academies They are like a dream factory, where young people from all over the world train to become the next star of the Camp Nou. But, as in every good story, not everything is as it seems. Australia, parents complained that they were scammed: they paid a fortune and what they got was less “La Masía” and more “a neighborhood school with poorly cut grass.” What an own goal!

Barçagate: Internal defamation in the Barça style

The scandal of Barçagate in 2020 it was like watching a soap opera on Twitter. It turns out that the board of directors Bartomeu hired a company to defame players on social media like Pique and Messi. It seems that someone has not read the manual on how to get along in the dressing room! Things ended so badly that Bartomeu had to resign. If you thought the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry was intense, you haven't seen anything.

Double standards: From UNICEF to Qatar

In 2006, Barcelona seemed to be the moral hero of football by wearing the logo of UNICEF on their shirt. But four years later, they signed a deal with the Qatar FoundationOf course, money talks, but Qatar is not exactly the country that respects human rights the most. It was a blow to the image of the club, which went from being the “good guy” to one that broke the moral script by a few million.

Conclusion: Lights and shadows of a giant

He FC Barcelona It's more than just a club, but it's also more than just a story of unblemished success. Between its links to dictators, internal scandals and controversial decisions, the club has shown that, in the world of football, ethics are sometimes played offside. So, the next time you sing "Visca Barça", remember that the club's history is a little more complex (and murky) than it seems.