Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Andy Walsh, Barcelona, Blue Elephant, IMUSA
Taken from an old FourFourTwo article:
It was then that a fan group name Blue Elephant emerged, led by a young, forward-thinking lawyer called Joan Laporta and backed by Cruyff. Sections of the media loyal to Nunez predictably dismissed Blue Elephant as idealistic activists, yet they were deadly serious. At the same time, over in England, Rupert Murdoch was trying to take control of Manchester United. The independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMUSA) led a campaign against the takeover and, unbeknown to them, Laporta and the Blue Elephant were watching closely. When the two teams met in the Champions League that season, the Catalans made contact. Andy Walsh, who was at the forefront of the United campaign, recalls their meeting: “To say we were impressed is an understatement. Like us, they felt that the supporters were the spiritual owners of a football club, no matter what it said on the deeds. One of their campaign team asked me if I would ever be the president of United. I laughed out loud. “Why, will one of you?” I asked. “Joan will,” came the reply and they were deadly serious.”
Funny how things turn out, isn’t it?
It'll Be Off 