Spanish sports minister Miguel Cardenal has become the latest senior figure in Madrid to say that Barcelona will not be able to continue playing in La Liga should Catalonia become an independent state.
A controversial "right to decide" referendum on Catalan independence has been planned by regional authorities in Barcelona, however, the Spanish government and the country's Supreme Court both say such a vote cannot take place.
Blaugrana club figures have been careful not to take a firm position on what is a delicate political and economic issue, while also making sure not to upset the many fans who show their support for "independencia" during each game at the Camp Nou.
La Liga president Javier Tebas said earlier this week that should independence actually take place then clubs such as Barcelona and Espanyol would not be able to play in competitions run by his organisation, leading to reports in the Catalan press that Barca had made initial contact with Ligue 1 authorities about the possibility of playing in France.
The head of the Spanish government's Consejo Superior de Deportes told reporters that he does not believe Catalan independence is going to happen, but if it did take place then the law was clear that clubs in a breakaway state would be excluded from competing for Spanish trophies.
"I do not think about hypothetical situations that I do not believe will happen," Athletic Bilbao supporter Cardenal said. "But, under Spanish law, the only thing contemplated is that only teams which form part of our country can play in our competitions. However, anyway, we are talking about a possibility [independence] which cannot exist."
Tebas has pointed out that the relevant legislation contains a law which allows clubs from Andorra to play in lower Spanish divisions.
However, any change following an independence vote which would permit Barcelona and other clubs such as Espanyol, Girona and Sabadell to continue to play in La Liga would likely be controversial.