The President of Catalonia speaks out

Pasqual Maragall, President of Catalonia has spoken this morning to a Catalan radio about the polemic originated in Spain with regards the recognition of Catalonia as a full member of the FIRS.
Maragall, thinks that there shouldn't be any problems to admit Catalonia as it was in this country where the roller hockey was invented and legalised as a competitive sport. Often when quesioning why Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are full members of the FIFA and therefore can compete against England, the answer has been that football as a competitive sport was invented in the United Kingdom.
It seems to me that this is a very valid argument in defence of the Catalan recognintion!
Maragall has also stated that in the last world cup in Macau, China was represented by 3 different national teams (Macau, Chinese Taipei, China).

More info about the world cup can be found at:
http://www.rollerhockeyworldb-macau2004.org/