Regulatory Changes and Catalan Football
Last July, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) introduced a series of changes to its regulations that indirectly affect emblematic clubs such as FC Barcelona. The new regulation specifies that the captain’s armband must be a single color and must include the word ‘captain’ or a ‘C’ that clearly identifies its wearer.
The Future of Symbols on the Playground
As a result of this regulation, players such as Marc-André ter Stegen, Christian Stuani and Sergi Gómez will not be able to display the Catalan flag on their armbands. However, the affected clubs have the opportunity to make a request to LaLiga EA Sports to allow the Catalan flag to be visible again during matches in the national competition.
A Context of Controversy
IFAB Rule 4.2 emphasizes that the captain must wear an armband that complies with the specifications of the competition organizer, in order to ensure uniformity and visual identity of the teams. However, this regulatory change was born out of a controversial incident that occurred during the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The Impact of the World Cup in Qatar
During the tournament, several European teams chose to wear an armband that included the LGBTIQ+ flag as a show of support for human rights, prompting a backlash from FIFA, who introduced sanctions for players who chose to do so. The controversy culminated with players, such as the England and Netherlands captains, willing to start matches with yellow cards to defend their message of solidarity.
The Case of Other Spanish Clubs
The regulations also apply to other clubs, such as Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, who will be able to continue showing their ikurriña, as well as Valencia and Mallorca, who will keep their respective flags. This allows cultural and regional diversity to remain visible in Spanish football, despite the restrictions imposed.
A Future with Identity
With this new regulation, Catalan clubs and other equipment from various regions of Spain will be able to continue to express their identity through their captain’s armbands, a symbol not only of leadership, but also of cultural representation. This opens a new chapter in football, where local traditions and identities can coexist with global regulations.