Barcelona scraps Spain World Cup tribute amid fans’ Catalan flag support

Barcelona has opted not to honor its World Cup-winning players at its first home game of the season, citing an incident involving the "estelada," Catalonia's pro-independence symbol. Instead of a planned tribute, a local group organized an event supporting the flag at Camp Nou stadium, distributing approximately 10,000 small flags to fans before Thursday's match against Athletic Bilbao.

The decision to cancel the tribute follows an incident last weekend where police confiscated an "estelada" flag from a fan before Barcelona's game at Elche. The club president, Joan Laporta, emphasized that the "estelada" is a legally recognized symbol and its display represents a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression. Barcelona also criticized the police's actions, deeming the use of force against the fan disproportionate and unjustified.

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it cannot in itself be considered an incitement to hatred or violence.

While Barcelona boasts eight World Cup champions in its squad, the most of any club, the club felt it was not the "most appropriate moment" for the tribute. Laporta stated that "soccer must unite, not generate confrontations," suggesting that the controversy surrounding the flag made a joint celebration untenable. He indicated that the Spanish football federation understood the club's position.

Other Spanish clubs, in coordination with the Spanish soccer federation, had honored their World Cup champions with events that included displaying the trophy and having Spain's coach in attendance. Barcelona's stance highlights the ongoing political tensions within Spain, particularly concerning Catalonia's independence movement, and its intersection with national sporting achievements.

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it was not 'the most appropriate moment' to offer the tribute to the Spain players, adding that 'soccer must unite, not generate confrontations'.