FC Barcelona have cancelled a pre-match tribute to Spain's World Cup winners at Spotify Camp Nou, club president Joan Laporta confirmed. The decision affects the club's Spanish international players ahead of Thursday's LaLiga match against Athletic Bilbao.
Laporta explained that the recognition, originally proposed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, was called off because the current context and environment were inappropriate following recent controversy surrounding police action at an away match against Elche.
The Barcelona president stated that the club had already communicated its decision to the Spanish Football Federation, adding that the governing body understood the position completely. He maintained that football should serve to bring people together rather than create confrontations that benefit no one.
Police controversy in Elche
The controversy stems from incidents preceding Barcelona's recent fixture against Elche, where several away supporters were arrested by officers from the National Police. Images of the arrests circulated widely and sparked intense criticism from the Catalan club.
Laporta strongly condemned what he described as disproportionate and violent actions by national police officers who assaulted a Barcelona club member for carrying the estelada flag prior to the game in Elche. He described the footage of the incident as terrifying.
The president confirmed that FC Barcelona had reached out directly to the fan and his family to offer full assistance. He called for a thorough investigation to establish responsibility and demanded that those involved face appropriate punishment once the facts are fully reconfigured.
Elche, a city in the Alicante province of southeastern Spain, hosted the recent match that triggered the fallout between club officials and national law enforcement. Spain's National Police force is responsible for policing urban areas and major public security operations, including stadium security deployments around high-profile football matches across the country.
Catalan flag display planned
Instead of honoring Spain's international champions, Barcelona will host a demonstration of support for the estelada flag during Thursday's league encounter against Athletic Bilbao at Spotify Camp Nou. The event is being organized by civil society groups Òmnium Cultural and the Assemblea Nacional Catalana alongside Penyes, the official network of Barcelona fan clubs.
Laporta defended the planned display, arguing that the estelada represents the thinking and desires for freedom of many Barcelona supporters and Catalans. He noted that Spain defines itself as a democratic state under the rule of law, where freedom of expression is enshrined as a fundamental constitutional right.
The club president stressed that the estelada should be respected alongside any other peaceful symbol that does not incite hatred. He added that the initiative aims to ensure supporters can display the flag at stadiums without endangering their physical safety or facing stigmatization from public order and security forces.
The estelada is the unofficial flag used by supporters of Catalan independence, featuring a single star on a triangle superimposed over yellow and red stripes. Òmnium Cultural and the Assemblea Nacional Catalana are two of the largest civic organizations advocating for Catalan self-determination and language protection in northeastern Spain. FC Barcelona's home stadium, Spotify Camp Nou, has long served as a venue for regional expression during domestic and European matches.
Thursday's LaLiga match against Athletic Bilbao will proceed with the planned flag display as the team returns to domestic league competition. Club officials hope the event will establish the right of supporters to carry political symbols peacefully at football grounds.
