Esteladas and anti-Spain chants as Barcelona cancel world champions tribute at Camp Nou | OneFootball

Esteladas and anti-Spain chants marked the build-up and kick-off of Barcelona v Athletic at the Spotify Camp Nou. A tribute to eight Barcelona world champions with Spain was scheduled, then Joan Laporta cancelled it amid tension after policing incidents in Elche.

According to El Correo, the flags appeared en masse as the teams emerged, with two huge banners covering parts of the scoreboards. Insults towards Spain and the national team came from the singing section.

The protest was organised by the ANC and Òmnium Cultural in response to National Police actions in Elche. The ANC said it would hand out 10,000 esteladas and urged fans to gather before kick-off. Its president Josep Vila welcomed Barcelona’s decision.

The cancelled ceremony formed part of a Spanish federation tour taking the World Cup to top-flight grounds since 19 August. The trophy had been shown at the Metropolitano, at San Mamés with far more applause than whistles, and at the Santiago Bernabéu, and was due in Barcelona on Thursday.

Barcelona had planned a pared-back act without RFEF president Rafael Louzán or head coach Luis de la Fuente, only a pitch photo with the eight players and an appeal for applause from the stadium announcer. The eight were Joan García, Eric García, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Rodri.

The club dropped it after Elche, where esteladas were seized and police charges followed, affecting an underage member whom Laporta said he contacted. He said it was not the right moment and that football should unite. He also defended the flag’s legality and said the RFEF understood.

Source: El Correo

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