Via Yahoo:
A bitter standoff dragging in everyone from politicians to footballers hits a climax Sunday when nationalists in Catalonia hope voters will back them to strike out for independence from Spain.
Insults and threats have been flying between Barcelona and Madrid this week ahead of the regional election that Catalan nationalists have framed as a vote on whether to break away and create a new state in Europe.
Catalonia’s nationalist president Artur Mas, tipped by opinion polls to win the vote, called on Catalans to “Give the finger” to their opponents.