Spain manager Luis de la Fuente condemned Athletic Bilbao fans who booed him and national team players during a World Cup tribute.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 22, at San Mamés stadium in Bilbao, where fans jeered players Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, and Nico Williams as they presented the World Cup trophy to the crowd.
De la Fuente, who watched the ceremony from the presidential box, was also targeted by the whistling despite having spent 18 years at Athletic Club as a player and youth member.
Speaking after the event, the manager from La Rioja said he felt clear sadness over the reaction in the stadium. He noted that having supported Athletic since childhood, he considers the club to be a vital part of football heritage.
He said that seeing players developed in Lezama and across Biscay reach the pinnacle of becoming world champions shows that football stands for entertainment and unity. He added that respect is a value he was taught that must never be lost, stating that mutual respect is essential for peaceful coexistence.
Protest and Social Media Boycott
The whistling followed an organized social media campaign calling for a boycott of the tribute to the Spanish national team. A message circulated online ahead of the match urged spectators to shout against the Spanish team and in favor of the Basque national team, calling on fans to bring Ikurriña flags, scarves, and banners to demonstrate that they were citizens of Euskal Herria rather than Spain.
Hostility toward the Spanish national team from Basque pro-independence groups has a long history in Spanish football. Protests by radical factions have previously included reported assaults on supporters wearing Spain jerseys or scarves during the World Cup tournament.
De la Fuente and Athletic Bilbao History
De la Fuente has deep roots at Athletic Bilbao, having spent 18 years at the club across his playing and formative years. Athletic Club, based at the San Mamés stadium in Bilbao, traditionally relies on players developed in the Basque region or through its youth academy at Lezama in Biscay.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón, defender Aymeric Laporte, and winger Nico Williams all developed through Athletic's system before representing Spain in their World Cup victory.
