{"id":23300,"date":"2026-05-14T12:25:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/23300\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T12:25:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:25:26","slug":"fc-barcelona-distances-itself-from-stars-palestinian-flag-waving-amid-israeli-anger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/23300\/","title":{"rendered":"FC Barcelona distances itself from star’s Palestinian flag-waving, amid Israeli anger"},"content":{"rendered":"

The FC Barcelona soccer team on Thursday distanced itself from the decision by its star Lamine Yamal to wave a Palestinian flag<\/a> during an open-top bus parade on Monday, and said the moment would not be included in repeat broadcasts of the event.<\/p>\n

The 18-year-old winger\u2019s act \u2014 welcomed by many in Spain, and defended by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez \u2014 drew backlash from the team\u2019s large fan base in Israel, and \u2014 also on Thursday \u2014 from Defense Minister Israel Katz, who called the player\u2019s act \u201chateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barcelona sent its response to the team\u2019s Israeli fan club Barca Mania, which then posted it in Hebrew on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It began: \u201cFC Barcelona is proud to represent a global community of fans from many different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities, including the Israeli community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 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,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe 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,\u201d the club added.<\/p>\n

\u201cFC 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,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tFC 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)<\/p>\n

\u201cOn behalf of FC Barcelona, we sincerely appreciate the Israeli fan community and your continued support for the club over the years,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

The Israeli fan club, in its post sharing the statement, thanked the team for its \u201cimportant and formal response,\u201d comparing it to other teams that have avoided straightforwardly responding to similar controversies.<\/p>\n

\u201cBarca 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,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

The fan club acknowledged as \u201cvery important\u201d the clarification that Yamal was not acting on behalf of the team, that the flag-waving wasn\u2019t planned in advance, and the team\u2019s statement of appreciation for its Israeli fans.<\/p>\n

It continued: \u201cAnyone who thinks Lamine will receive some punishment or be traded to Paris San Germain \u2013 that of course won\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team noted, however, that Barcelona coach Hansi Flick had himself taken Yamal aside and expressed personal opposition to such political statements.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tFC Barcelona president Joan Laporta embraces Barcelona\u2019s 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)<\/p>\n

The fan club noted that \u201cas 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanking followers for making their voices heard, the Israeli fan club concluded: \u201cWhat\u2019s important is that we preserve the fellowship between us, and continue to share in our support \u2013 that\u2019s more important than any player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katz: \u201cAs Israel\u2019s defense minister, I won\u2019t stay silent\u2019<\/p>\n

Shortly after the Israeli club\u2019s response, Defense Minister Israel Katz took to X to denounce Yamal\u2019s flag-waving, calling the 18-year-old winger\u2019s act \u201chateful\u201d and invoking the Hamas terror group\u2019s atrocities in its 2023 attack that triggered the subsequent Gaza war.<\/p>\n

Writing in Spanish and Hebrew, Katz wrote: \u201cLamine 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever supports this type of message should ask themselves: Does he consider this humanitarian? Is this moral?\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs 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,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d Katz concluded, apparently unaware of the team\u2019s response.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tDefense 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)<\/p>\n

Spain international Yamal is one of the leading contenders to take over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer\u2019s biggest star.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Spanish government has assailed Israel over its conduct in the wars triggered by Hamas\u2019s October 7 attack, including by accusing the Jewish state of genocide \u2014 a charge to which it strenuously objects.<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said of the incident: \u201cSpain 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

AP contributed to this report.<\/p>\n


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