Barcelona cancel tribute to World Cup winners after Elche incident | OneFootball

Barcelona have cancelled Thursday’s planned tribute to their World Cup winners at Camp Nou. El País reports that the ceremony, due before the Athletic Bilbao match at 21:00, has been scrapped after a minor carrying a Catalan independence flag was assaulted in Elche last weekend.

Footage on social media after Sunday’s 0-5 Liga win at Elche showed police detain the supporter, seize his estelada, then strike him. The report said Spain’s Interior Ministry has opened an investigation.

On Tuesday, Joan Laporta said he had wanted to recast the tribute as a celebration of the estelada. He later stated the event would not go ahead because the context and timing were not right, and that the Spanish football federation had been informed and understood.

The Barcelona president condemned what he called disproportionate and violent policing in Elche. He said the club would support the 17-year-old and his family, and called for sanctions against those responsible once the facts are confirmed.

Spanish law does not ban displaying the estelada, though officers may remove it if they believe it could provoke clashes with opposing fans. Officers were seen taking the flag before the blows.

Eight Barcelona players won the World Cup in July in the United States, Joan García, Eric García, Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí, Rodri, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal. Cubarsí, Rodri, Olmo and Yamal started the final against Argentina, a 1-0 win after extra time.

Source: L'Équipe

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