I have seen and heard some stupid things about football in my time, a lot of them from just around the corner at White Hart lane but also a fair few from the red side of north London, but this latest bit of silliness has to come close to taking the biscuit.
Barcelona joining the English Premier League is actually being talked about. Not by the Spanish or English football authorities though, or at least not to our knowledge, but by some folk in the football media. The reason is the vote about Catalan independence that had already been ruled as an illegal and illegitimate ballot by the Spanish government.
The scenes from Catalonia on Sunday were shocking and with FC Barcelona being a symbol for the Catalan people, the club has been dragged in and the president has suggested that Barca could leave La Liga if Catalan does ever go independent.
Does that mean they would join the EPL? Well as much as the money men might think it a good idea, logistics would disagree, as would the way fans having to travel every week. And there is the not very small matter of clubs like Arsenal not particularly relishing the idea of having to compete with one of the best sides ever to walk the planet.
Arsene Wenger was more circumspect when asked about the issue, as reported by Sky Sports, but the Frenchman still made it clear that he thought the idea was at best a pipe dream.
He said, “If Barcelona want to join the Premier League, it makes things even more difficult for everybody.
“I don’t think they have gotten as far as that. It is interesting and there will be incidents on the sporting side as Barcelona are a highly political club. I think it will be interesting to see how they respond in the championship.
“We have enough clubs here with 20 but if you want to go up to 24, we have to invite the Scottish clubs before we go for the Spanish.”
The Gunners have enough problems with the likes of Man City and Chelsea blocking our way to the Premier League trophy. Does any Arsenal fan think it is a good idea to have to get past Barcelona as well?
Bob.