For much of their 125-year history, Athletic Bilbao have been recognised for their unique player policy.
Known as a philosophy by those connected to the club, it
dictates that Athletic only use players who have been born or brought up in
what is defined as the Basque Country, a region of northern Spain and across
the border in France of three million inhabitants that shares linguistic,
historical and cultural ties.
It has served them well: behind Real Madrid and Barcelona,
they are Spain’s third most successful club in terms of trophies won, and
remain the only team other than those two never to have played outside the
country’s top flight.
Towards the end of a lengthy general assembly in October,
however, a group of socios (club members) asked whether the interpretation of
Athletic’s “philosophy” should be extended to allow the children and
grandchildren of Basque people living abroad to play for the club.
Those who are in favour of a change point out the Basque
Country’s low birth rate compared to the rest of Europe. The Basque Country in
Spain had a birth rate of 6.2 (births per 1,000 inhabitants) for 2022 according
to the statistics office Eustat, the lowest since 1975, and lower than Spain’s
rate of 6.9 and the European Union’s 8.7.
The official response from Athletic to those who raised the
issue at the general assembly was clear. President Jon Uriarte told a press
conference afterwards that none of the three candidates who had run for the
position last year had campaigned to change the philosophy and that fans who
wanted to open a debate could do so through the appropriate mechanisms. Voices
from within the club do not think the desire for change is widespread within
Athletic’s fanbase.
Even so, some fans think Athletic’s philosophy in its
present form is limiting. The question is how many are willing to discuss
something which is such a significant part of the club’s identity.
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