“Més que un club” : uma análise sócio-histórica do FC Barcelona como símbolo de resistência e identidade catalã durante a ditadura de Francisco Franco (1939 - 1975)

Abstract

This study analyzes the role of FC Barcelona as a symbol of Catalan resistance and identity during Francisco Franco’s dictatorship (1939–1975). It departs from the premise that football, beyond its sporting dimension, constitutes a social and political phenomenon capable of expressing collective belonging, regional identities, and, in certain contexts, forms of contestation against authoritarian regimes. The research adopts a qualitative approach, grounded in bibliographic review, historical analysis, and the examination of iconographic sources. Initially, the discussion addresses football as a space for identity construction and political mobilization, highlighting its instrumentalization by different authoritarian regimes throughout the twentieth century. Subsequently, the focus turns to Catalonia under Francoism, a period marked by cultural and linguistic repression, and to the role played by FC Barcelona as one of the few spaces available for the affirmation of regional identity. Finally, the study underscores the cultural legacy left to the club, which has continued to preserve and project these symbolic dimensions beyond the dictatorship.