The Athletic Bilbao board of directors has rejected a proposal from a group of club delegates (compromisarios) to include a formal vote on the official status of the Euskal Selekzioa, the Basque national football team, on the agenda for the upcoming General Assembly on October 28 at the Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao.
The club confirmed the decision, stating that the proposal does not meet the necessary requirements outlined in the Athletic Club Statutes and Organic Regulations for inclusion in an ordinary assembly. According to reporting by El Correo, the board maintains that the matter does not fall under the competencies of the assembly, leading them to deny the request to initiate the electronic signature-gathering process required by Article 23.3 of the club’s statutes.
Statutory Rejection of the Euskal Selekzioa Proposal
The initiative was designed to allow members to cast a vote supporting the Basque national team’s pursuit of official recognition in international football competitions. Under Article 23.3 of the Athletic Club Statutes, members can propose new agenda items if they secure support from at least 10% of the delegate body or 2% of the club’s total membership. Proponents had requested that the club enable the electronic system to collect these signatures, a request the board denied on the grounds that they must first determine if a proposal is a valid subject for the assembly to decide upon.
The board’s refusal has been met with formal challenges from the organizers, but these appeals were also dismissed. Club sources indicated that the decision was based strictly on statutory criteria, asserting that not every topic submitted by members is automatically eligible for assembly debate.
Disagreement over Club Interest and Historical Ties
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from supporters of the initiative. David Salinas-Armendariz, a lawyer advising the group of delegates, expressed his disagreement during an appearance on TeleBilbao. He questioned the board’s stance, noting that the relationship between Athletic Club and the Basque national team is historically significant.
“I do not understand how the board of directors can consider this a matter that has no interest for the club,” Salinas-Armendariz stated, as reported by both Diario Vasco and El Correo. He emphasized that the club’s identity is deeply intertwined with its Basque roots and that Athletic has a long history of supporting the regional team by providing players, coaching staff, and the use of San Mamés stadium for their fixtures.
Athletic Club’s Stance on Continued Collaboration
While the board has blocked the formal motion for an institutional declaration, Ibaigane—the club’s headquarters—maintains that its practical support for the Euskal Selekzioa remains unchanged. Sources from the club highlighted that Athletic continues to collaborate with the Basque team by facilitating infrastructure and allowing players to participate in matches. The current dispute centers specifically on the board’s refusal to transition that long-standing operational support into a formal, institutional statement of policy from the club’s governing body.
The General Assembly is scheduled to proceed on October 28 at the Euskalduna Palace, where the current agenda will be addressed without the inclusion of the motion regarding the Basque national team’s official status.
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