FC Barcelona commemorates the National Day of Catalonia

As always on September 11, FC Barcelona attended the floral tribute at the moment to Rafael Casanova on occasion of the National Day of Catalonia. This annual event pays homage to the Head Councillor of Barcelona at the time of the siege of the city during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714 and the subsequent loss of Catalan institutions and laws.

President Joan Laporta was joined by members of his board including Rafael Yuste, first vice-president of the Sports Area, Elena Fort, vice-president of the Institutional Area, Josep Cubells, secretary and basketball president, Xavier Barbany, head of roller hockey, Miquel Camps, Josep Ignasi Macià, head of the Social Area, Aureli Mas, head of futsal, Joan Solé, head of handball and Jordi Casals, president of Barça Atlètic.

The teams themselves were represented by Hansi Flick and Alejandro Balde, football coach and defender; Marc Vivés, Pere Romeu and Alexia Putellas, women's football director, coach and captain; Joan Peñarroya and Àlex Abrines, basketball coach and player; and Jordi Rosell and Pol Valera, handball sporting director and player.

Coordinator Jordi Torras, coach Tino Pérez and player Sergio González represented futsal, while roller hockey had coordinator Gaby Cairo, coach David Cáceres and goalkeeper Sergi Fernández. Boys football was there in the form of Jesús Ruescas and Jan Moré together with Maria Miquel and Irene Miquel of the girls. The Barça Genuine team manager Sergi Panadero, and players Guillem Alsina and Berta Sió also joined the group, as did the president, vice-president and director of the Barça Players Group, namely Juan Manuel Asensi, Pere Valentí and Antonio Olmo.

Words from Laporta

President Laporta gave a brief speech, saying that "once again FC Barcelona, an entity with profoundly democratic roots, has come to make a floral offering at the monument to Rafael Casanova. We have been doing this since 1919, provided that the political situations has allowed us, and we are very proud of that. The club has always stood up for the rights and freedoms of Catalonia, and we shall continue to do so. The board that I have the honour of presiding and all of the people at the club have the duty to be be loyal and respectful of our foundational essence, which we are heralding this year through our 125th anniversary, which goes to show once again why we are more than a club. Visca el Barça i Visca Catalunya!"