LaLiga, Barça, and Pedro Sánchez

For too long now, two years since the general elections of July 23, 2023, Pedro Sánchez's government has pursued a foreign policy that barely responds to Spain's true interests, focusing much more on his personal and partisan ambitions to stay in power at any cost. 

As part of this strategy, some decisions have been made with the clear aim of scraping together votes from the far left ahead of the next election, when the tactic of fearmongering about the far right will have worn thin and corruption will take its toll, leaving the government to present itself as the great leader of the international left, to the detriment of Sumar and Podemos.

These decisions have led to a direct confrontation with the current US administration of President Donald Trump, with the Israeli government, and also with its European partners, who for more than a year have not included Spain in key meetings of the core group of countries whose governments make the decisions: France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

In recent working meetings of defense, foreign affairs, and interior ministers on immigration, other governments, such as Poland and Finland, have joined these countries.

On Wednesday, the exclusion of Pedro Sánchez from the virtual meeting of European leaders, organized by German Chancellor Fiedrich Merz with those who really have weight, decision-making power, and command, such as France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy, was rude and blunt.

The Spanish prime minister was relegated to the back of the pack in what is called a coalition of volunteers. We are talking about Ukraine, but the same is true of the design of the new Europe, especially in terms of security and defense.

Sánchez, and unfortunately Spain, is reaping the rewards of exclusion, disregard and indifference from Washington, but also from its European partners, who had to suffer his lonely crusade with Palestine, leaving them exposed, the snub against Trump and his allies by stating that Spain would not reach 5% of its budget for security and defense even though it had signed up to this at the NATO summit, increasing relations with China on its own with contracts with the Huawei company, which causes so much suspicion in the United States and the EU, suspending the purchase of American F-35 aircraft, and holding a summit in Latin America with far-left leaders sending messages that grate on all Western foreign ministries. 

There are other decisions in various sectors that also contribute to earning the animosity of its partners and allies. Even the European Commission and other EU institutions are publishing reports that cast serious doubt on the amnesty law for Catalan separatists, led by Puigdemont, and on the billions of euros of European funds, specifically from the Next Generation program, that remain unspent due to the Sánchez government's negligence, with the deadline expiring in 2026.

In recent months, there have already been negative repercussions from the lack of confidence inspired by Sánchez's actions, such as a significant reduction in foreign investment in Spain and the removal of commercial container routes from the port of Algeciras.

Washington and the LaLiga and Barça agreements in the DRC

But there may be more, and in sectors as popular as football, which may be affected by negative reports from various US institutions.

Michael Walsh, senior non-resident fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, tells us that in Spain, the current government of Pedro Sánchez is facing political difficulties after a series of high-level corruption scandals involving his Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).

"Amid this domestic political crisis, the Sánchez government has decided to continue undermining US national security and foreign policy interests globally. This includes taking contradictory positions on China, Israel, and NATO. The controversy with Huawei is a recent example. The US government is looking for ways to pressure the Sánchez government to cease and desist from pursuing a Spanish foreign policy that weakens the transatlantic alliance between Spain and the United States, Walsh says.

The question immediately arises: What can the Trump administration do? The answer is straightforward: "One option that could be explored is for the US Treasury Department and the State Department to jointly prepare an assessment for the White House and Congress on the incompatibility of the Spanish Football Federation with US national security and foreign policy interests.

Such a report would almost certainly reveal a number of concerns related to LaLiga and its clubs. Possible concerns could include LaLiga and FC Barcelona's commercial partnerships with African entities such as MTN Group and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively.

Washington views with great suspicion the $44 million contract between FC Barcelona and the Ministry of Sports and Leisure of the African country, which is believed to have interests beyond sports and tourism, including image and political support for a government with poor relations with the Trump administration.

If recommendations for sanctions against LaLiga entities (e.g., FC Barcelona) were included as an appendix to the report, this would give the US government greater diplomatic leverage that could be used against Sánchez in the future.

In the case of FC Barcelona, economic and political interests are combined, because Sánchez depends on the support of Catalan political actors to remain in power. The introduction of US sanctions against LaLiga or FC Barcelona would put incredible pressure on these Catalan political actors and, by extension, on Sánchez. We have reached a situation where it seems that too many lines of all colors have been crossed and resources and decisions are having an impact.

Walsh believes that timing is important in terms of impact. The impact would be particularly strong if pressure were applied in the run-up to the recently announced LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal, which will be held in Miami, the home state of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, later this year. For that to happen, the Trump administration and/or the US Congress would have to order the US Treasury Department and the US State Department to jointly prepare the report and US sanctions now.

The most decisive red line against Sánchez has been the recent unilateral decision to suspend the purchase of US F-35 aircraft, which provides a clear justification for US policymakers to present such a request as a response to Sánchez's controversial decision.

The way to do this is clear, Wasls explains: ultimately, such a request could be initiated by the White House or the US Congress. For example, Senator Jim Risch could initiate the request within the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Such a move would likely be welcomed by several interest groups. Potential examples include US defense contractors and certain US sports leagues. It would also likely be welcomed by the Republican base. 

That is why LaLiga and Barça should be concerned about the political situation that has been created and which is causing collateral damage in a world where there are no coincidences, things happen for a reason, and actions have consequences.