Football's Most Bizarre: Barcelona Sending Coded Signals to Syrian Rebels?

FC Barcelona isn't just the best club in the world. Oh no. They're revolutionaries, too.

So says the state-run Syrian Al Dunya television, which has accused the reigning European champions of sending coded messages to Syrian rebels.

Confused? Let's back up.

In January 2011, an uprising started in Syria. The movement began as a series of protests, but it later escalated to armed conflict.

So, where do Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Pep Guardiola fit into all this?

They're aiding and abetting the rebels, of course.

At least, that's what Al Dunya and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad are bizarrely claiming.

On the crazy scale, this one ranks up there with the Iraqi information minister.

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Al Dunya charged that Barcelona’s tactical formations represented a map of routes from Lebanon to Syria used to smuggle weapons to the Syrian rebels. It said projecting the map on a Barcelona Copa del Rey quarter final match against Real Madrid that players in the club’s formation on the soccer pitch were the equivalent of smugglers while the ball represented weapons as they were moved along the smuggling route.

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Yes, clearly it's all about the formation. A four-man defense can only mean the rebels are planning a pincer attack. An extra holding midfielder is a sure signal that a night-attack is imminent.

Serious question: What happens if Guardiola leaves Barca for Chelsea?