Issues of nationality have been to the fore in international sport this week with Rory McIlroy’s dilemma on whether to represent Britain or Ireland splashed across the media; Andy Murray’s Scottish roots being subsumed under the achievement of becoming the first British Grand Slam winner in tennis and at a team level, Barcelona becoming inevitably drawn in to the growing call for secession of Catalonia from Spain.
We will look in greater depth at the issues surrounding McIlroy in next weekend’s Sport for Business Members’ Weekly but Barcelona presents a clear case of how sponsorship can have unintended consequence, as well as brand benefit when politics and sport become entwined.
The club, in its primary football as well as basketball and handball varieties is among the largest and the most recognisable in the world.  As an integral part of the city it is central to most local national identity.  As economic turmoil brings secession back firmly onto the agenda, a number of serious questions arise.
The famous Barcelona strip is as iconic as they come.  They have always shied away from incorporating the national colours of Catalonia, the Red and Gold bars of Aragon, into the kit in anything other than the captains armband, first worn by Johann Cruyff in the 1970’s as a gesture of defiance against the Franco regime in Madrid.
Thirty years on, a revision of the kit which incorporated the motif on the collar became the largest ever selling rendition of the shirt.  Next season, plans are afoot to have the second kit match the flag in its entirety.
The decision comes against a background of tens of thousands of people marching on the streets demanding independence.  Political temperatures are hotter now than they have been since the Spanish Civil War and the directors of the club must tread carefully with how they fan those flames.
From a sporting perspective, independence would mean no longer playing in the Spanish Liga, no more rivalry on the pitch with Real Madrid and less finance to keep the team at the peak of world football.  Sponsorship by the Qatar Foundation brings another political dimension as that state would be questioned on recognition should any unilateral moves emerge.
Sport and politics inflame great passion and great division as we have seen in Ireland over many years.  Sports contribution can be of enormous value in healing wounds but it can also be used to very strong effect in creating division.
Rory McIlroy’s eventual decision will be a personal one, based on a number of rational factors.  In the case of Barcelona, the stakes are considerably higher and the hand they play must be very carefully considered.
View all the latest news on the commercial side of Irish sport
Find out more about how Sport for Business can be of benefit to you
Subscribe today for the free Sport for Business daily news digest