- Mediterranean League
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The Mediterranean League, also referred to as the Lliga Mediterrània (Catalan), the Liga Mediterránea (Spanish) or La Liga del Mediterráneo, was a football league played in the Republican area of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The league, played out in early 1937, was won by FC Barcelona. Clubs from the league also competed in a cup competition, the Copa de la España Libre.[1] By 1938 the Republican area was divided and a second Mediterranean League season proved impossible to organise. However an alternative Lliga Catalana, also won by FC Barcelona, was arranged.
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Regional Leagues
The Spanish Civil War, which began in July 1936, left Spain divided. Several La Liga clubs, including Sevilla FC, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Celta de Vigo and Deportivo de La Coruña found themselves in areas under the control of Franco.
The Republicans controlled three major cities - Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia - and much of the surrounding countryside. They also controlled much of the Levante coast. As a result of this divide, La Liga was suspended. However during late 1936, some regional leagues continued to be organised in the Republican areas. The Campeonato Levante featured teams from Valencia and Murcia. Participating teams included Valencia FC, Levante FC, Gimnàstico FC, Hércules CF, Murcia FC and FC Cartagena. Valencia FC emerged as champions with 13 points.
The Campionat de Catalunya was also contested between CE Espanyol, FC Barcelona, Girona FC, ES Granollers, CE Sabadell FC and CF Badalona. Both Madrid CF and Athletic Madrid had applied to join the Campionat de Catalunya, but their application was rejected by FC Barcelona. CE Espanyol emerged as champions with 14 points.
The Mediterranean League
The Republican civil authorities also organised the Mediterranean League as an alternative to La Liga. It was intended to feature all twelve teams from both the Campeonato Levante and the Campionat de Catalunya. However Hércules CF, Murcia FC and FC Cartagena had to withdraw because their towns were bombarded. To even the balance between teams from Catalonia and Levante, CE Sabadell FC and FC Badalona were also withdrawn and Atlético Castellón were invited to participate as the fourth Levante club.
Despite Madrid being in the Republican area, neither Madrid CF or Athletic Madrid entered the Mediterranean League. The reasons for this are debatable. Their non-participation has being blamed both on internal divisions within the Republican ranks and the fact that Madrid remained closer to the frontline than either Barcelona or Valencia. The league was contested between January and May 1937. After 14 games FC Barcelona, with a team coached by Patrick O'Connell and featuring Domènec Balmanya and Josep Escolà, emerged as champions. CE Espanyol finished as runners-up and Girona FC, coached by Francisco Bru finished third. Valencia FC, who featured Lecue of Madrid CF as a guest player in their last two games, finished fourth [2] and Levante FC finished fifth.
On September 28 2007, FC Barcelona requested that the RFEF to recognise the Mediterranean League as a La Liga title. This action was taken after the Spanish Congress proposed to the RFEF to recognise Levante FC's Copa de la España Libre win as equivalent to Copa del Rey trophy.
Final Table
Teams Played Won Drawn Lost GF Ga Pts FC Barcelona 14 7 6 1 27 15 20 CE Espanyol 14 8 3 3 30 20 19 Girona FC 14 6 5 3 27 18 17 Valencia FC 14 7 3 4 32 23 17 Levante FC 14 5 6 3 30 18 16 Gimnàstico FC 14 3 4 7 18 31 10 ES Granollers 14 2 4 8 17 36 8 Atlético Castellón 14 0 5 9 7 27 5 Lliga Catalana
By the latter half of 1937 and early 1938 the war was going against the Republicans. In November 1937 their capital was transferred from Valencia to Barcelona and after the Battle of Teruel the Republican area was split in two. In football terms this meant that a second Mediterranean League was impossible as clubs from the Levante were unable to enter. Instead a Lliga Catalana, featuring just Catalan teams was organised. The competition was never completed due to disruption from the war but the title was subsequently awarded to FC Barcelona. The Barça coach Patrick O'Connell had returned from the tour of Mexico and the United States with only four players. Despite this, FC Barcelona won both the Lliga Catalana and the Campionat de Catalunya.
Table
Teams Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA Pts FC Barcelona 17 14 1 2 86 26 29 UE Sants 16 10 3 3 66 37 23 L'Avenç del Sport 16 8 2 6 39 33 18 CE Espanyol 16 6 6 4 44 44 18 CE Europa 16 7 3 6 47 39 17 FC Martinenc 16 7 2 7 39 34 16 CE Júpiter 17 4 2 11 25 76 10 FC Badalona 16 4 2 10 47 50 10 Iluro SC 16 2 3 11 31 55 7 CE Manresa 2 0 0 2 4 14 0 Sources
- Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football (2003), Phil Ball. [1]
- Barça: A People’s Passion (1998), Jimmy Burns. [2]
References
Categories:- Spanish Civil War
- Wartime association football
- 1937 in association football
- 1938 in association football
- Defunct football leagues in Spain
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