The FC Barcelona soccer team on Thursday distanced itself from the decision by its star Lamine Yamal to wave a Palestinian flag during an open-top bus parade on Monday, and said the moment would not be included in repeat broadcasts of the event.
The 18-year-old winger’s act — welcomed by many in Spain, and defended by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez — drew backlash from the team’s large fan base in Israel, and — also on Thursday — from Defense Minister Israel Katz, who called the player’s act “hateful.”
Barcelona sent its response to the team’s Israeli fan club Barca Mania, which then posted it in Hebrew on Facebook.
It began: “FC Barcelona is proud to represent a global community of fans from many different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities, including the Israeli community.”
“In this context, it is important to us to clarify that the moment in question, during the La Liga championship celebrations, was not intended to convey any political message on behalf of FC Barcelona. Beyond that, we renounce any message that is directed against any community, state or nation,” it said.
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“We would like to emphasize that the moment in question was not planned in advance by any official connected to FC Barcelona, but rather occurred spontaneously, during celebrations with hundreds of thousands of fans on the street, representing a wide diversity of cultures and symbols,” the club added.
“FC Barcelona remains committed to the values of respect, inclusion, diversity and dialogue. We completely understand that the images and videos have caused discomfort or disappointment among the Israeli fan community, and we completely respect your feelings and sensitivity that issues of this sort can arouse,” it said.
FC Barcelona player Lamine Yamal holding a Palestinian flag as he celebrates with his team atop a bus after winning the Spanish La Liga soccer title in Barcelona, Spain, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo)
“On behalf of FC Barcelona, we sincerely appreciate the Israeli fan community and your continued support for the club over the years,” it said.
The Israeli fan club, in its post sharing the statement, thanked the team for its “important and formal response,” comparing it to other teams that have avoided straightforwardly responding to similar controversies.
“Barca sent us this message, and also sent a similar message (in a shorter form) to thousands of Israeli fans who reached out to them by email, with the same points,” it said.
The fan club acknowledged as “very important” the clarification that Yamal was not acting on behalf of the team, that the flag-waving wasn’t planned in advance, and the team’s statement of appreciation for its Israeli fans.
It continued: “Anyone who thinks Lamine will receive some punishment or be traded to Paris San Germain – that of course won’t happen.”
The team noted, however, that Barcelona coach Hansi Flick had himself taken Yamal aside and expressed personal opposition to such political statements.
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta embraces Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal after defeating Real Madrid 2-0 to win the Spanish La Liga soccer championship with three rounds to spare, in Barcelona, Spain, on May 10, 2026. (AP/Joan Mateu Parra)
The fan club noted that “as part of media training, players get a general instruction to avoid global politics, but there is no prohibition on it. Pluralism, freedom of expression, etc.”
Thanking followers for making their voices heard, the Israeli fan club concluded: “What’s important is that we preserve the fellowship between us, and continue to share in our support – that’s more important than any player.”
Katz: “As Israel’s defense minister, I won’t stay silent’
Shortly after the Israeli club’s response, Defense Minister Israel Katz took to X to denounce Yamal’s flag-waving, calling the 18-year-old winger’s act “hateful” and invoking the Hamas terror group’s atrocities in its 2023 attack that triggered the subsequent Gaza war.
Writing in Spanish and Hebrew, Katz wrote: “Lamine Yamal chose to incite against Israel and foment hatred while our soldiers are fighting the terrorist organization Hamas, an organization that massacred, raped, burned and murdered Jewish children, women and elderly on October 7.”
“Whoever supports this type of message should ask themselves: Does he consider this humanitarian? Is this moral?” he continued.
“As the defense minister of the State of Israel, I will not remain silent in the face of incitement against Israel and against the Jewish people,” he declared.
“I expect a great and respected club like FC Barcelona to distance itself from these statements and make it unequivocally clear that there is no place for incitement or for support of terrorism,” Katz concluded, apparently unaware of the team’s response.
Defense Minister Israel Katz speaks during a ceremony returning a stone from the Western Wall that had been kept at HaKirya military base, to the Davidson Center in the Old City of Jerusalem, May 4, 2026. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
Spain international Yamal is one of the leading contenders to take over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer’s biggest star.
He is expected to be one of the stars at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico held in June and July.
The Spanish government has assailed Israel over its conduct in the wars triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack, including by accusing the Jewish state of genocide — a charge to which it strenuously objects.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said of the incident: “Spain has recognized the state of Palestine. From the very beginning, Spain condemned the attacks by Hamas, and later condemned the war being waged by the Israeli authorities in the Gaza Strip.”
Spain is also boycotting the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, after its state broadcaster voted to withdraw if Israel were to take part in the event.
AP contributed to this report.
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