Enrique Piñeyro Queralt
Encyclopedia
Enrique Piñeyro Queralt, also referred to as Enric Piñeyro or the Marqués de la Mesa de Asta, was a Spanish
aristocrat and president of FC Barcelona
between 1940 and 1943. Piñeyro, allegedly, knew next to nothing about sport and had apparently never even seen a game of football before his term as Barça president. A close friend of General José Moscardó
, he had been a serving officer on the side of Franco
during the Spanish Civil War
and was appointed club president on the basis of his loyalty to the Franco regime. However despite this he was won over to the Barça cause and became the club’s principal defender during the early Franco era. He resigned as club president following the controversial 1943 Copa del Generalísimo semi-final against Real Madrid
. During the Piñeyro presidency the club had to change its name and shield. In 1941 a decree issued by Franco banned the use of non-Spanish language
names and the club had to change its name from the Anglised
Football Club Barcelona to Club de Fútbol Barcelona. The Catalan flag
was also banned, leading to its removal from the club shield. The club also formed a handball
team, now known as FC Barcelona Handbol, as well as baseball
, and cycling teams.
Piñeyro made his inaugural speech to his fellow FC Barcelona
board members on March 13 1940 and outlined his intentions to depoliticise the club off the field, while at same time aiming for sporting greatness on it. One of the first acts of the Piñeyro administration was to campaign against a six year ban imposed by the Franco
regime on any exiled sportsmen returning to Spain. This allowed several former FC Barcelona
players, including Domènec Balmanya
and Josep Escolà
, to return to club. These reinforcements subsequently proved their worth during the 1941-42 season. Barça, with a team coached by Joan Josep Nogués, had struggled in La Liga
and narrowly avoided being relegated after winning a play-off against Real Murcia
. Despite this however the club managed to win the Copa del Generalísimo, beating Atlético Bilbao 4-3 after extra time.
A week after the play-off against Real Murcia
, after two years and four months in post, Piñeyro resigned as club president on August 13 1942 . However one month later he returned for a second term. During the 1942-43 season Barça finished third in La Liga
and reached the Copa del Generalísimo semi-final where they played Real Madrid
. After winning the first-leg 3-0 at Les Corts
they were controversially beaten 11-1 at the Charmartín
. It has been alleged that the Barça players were pressurised into losing the game by supporters of the Franco
regime and a hostile home crowd. Piñeyro subsequently lodged a complaint with the Royal Spanish Football Federation and resigned as club president permanently on August 20 1943.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
aristocrat and president of FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
between 1940 and 1943. Piñeyro, allegedly, knew next to nothing about sport and had apparently never even seen a game of football before his term as Barça president. A close friend of General José Moscardó
José Moscardó Ituarte
José Moscardó e Ituarte, 1st Count of the Alcázar of Toledo, Grandee of Spain was the military Governor of Toledo Province during the Spanish Civil War...
, he had been a serving officer on the side of Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and was appointed club president on the basis of his loyalty to the Franco regime. However despite this he was won over to the Barça cause and became the club’s principal defender during the early Franco era. He resigned as club president following the controversial 1943 Copa del Generalísimo semi-final against Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
. During the Piñeyro presidency the club had to change its name and shield. In 1941 a decree issued by Franco banned the use of non-Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
names and the club had to change its name from the Anglised
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Football Club Barcelona to Club de Fútbol Barcelona. The Catalan flag
Senyera
The Senyera is a vexillological symbol based on the coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon, which consists of four red stripes on a golden background...
was also banned, leading to its removal from the club shield. The club also formed a handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
team, now known as FC Barcelona Handbol, as well as baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and cycling teams.
Piñeyro made his inaugural speech to his fellow FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
board members on March 13 1940 and outlined his intentions to depoliticise the club off the field, while at same time aiming for sporting greatness on it. One of the first acts of the Piñeyro administration was to campaign against a six year ban imposed by the Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
regime on any exiled sportsmen returning to Spain. This allowed several former FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
players, including Domènec Balmanya
Domènec Balmanya
Domènec Balmanya Perera , also referred to as Domingo Balmanya, is a former Spanish footballer and manager who spent most of his playing career at FC Barcelona. As a manager he guided CF Barcelona to the a Copa del Generalísimo win in 1957 and to victory in the first ever Fairs Cup in 1958...
and Josep Escolà
Josep Escolà
Josep Escolà Segalés , also referred to as José Escolà, was a Spanish Catalan footballer who spent most of his career at FC Barcelona. Escolà also played for both Spain and the Catalan XI...
, to return to club. These reinforcements subsequently proved their worth during the 1941-42 season. Barça, with a team coached by Joan Josep Nogués, had struggled in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
and narrowly avoided being relegated after winning a play-off against Real Murcia
Real Murcia
Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the region of Murcia. Founded in 1908, it currently plays in the second division, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which can hold 33,045 spectators....
. Despite this however the club managed to win the Copa del Generalísimo, beating Atlético Bilbao 4-3 after extra time.
A week after the play-off against Real Murcia
Real Murcia
Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the region of Murcia. Founded in 1908, it currently plays in the second division, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which can hold 33,045 spectators....
, after two years and four months in post, Piñeyro resigned as club president on August 13 1942 . However one month later he returned for a second term. During the 1942-43 season Barça finished third in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
and reached the Copa del Generalísimo semi-final where they played Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
. After winning the first-leg 3-0 at Les Corts
Camp de Les Corts
Camp de Les Corts , commonly referred to as Les Corts, was a sports stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was the home ground for FC Barcelona until the club moved to the Camp Nou in 1957....
they were controversially beaten 11-1 at the Charmartín
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is an all-seater football stadium in Madrid, Spain. It was inaugurated on 14 December 1947 and is owned by Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. It has a current capacity of 85,454 spectators....
. It has been alleged that the Barça players were pressurised into losing the game by supporters of the Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
regime and a hostile home crowd. Piñeyro subsequently lodged a complaint with the Royal Spanish Football Federation and resigned as club president permanently on August 20 1943.
External links
Sources
- Barça: A People’s Passion (1998), Jimmy Burns. http://www.amazon.com/Barca-Peoples-Passion-Jimmy-Burns/dp/0747545545