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FC Barcelona football star Lamine Yamal caused controversy earlier this month when raising a Palestinian flag handed to him while celebrating his clubs 29th La Liga victory through the streets of Barcelona,
After Yamal had raised the flag, Palestinian artists painted a mural of the young football star on the wall of a home that had been destroyed by the Israeli attacks since 7 October tragedy that occurred in Israel,
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offered support to Yamal, saying: “Spain has recognised the State of Palestine,” as he responded to media during a joint press conference with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, adding: “From the very first moment, Spain condemned the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip, and the illegal occupation being carried out through settlements in the West Bank.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israeli Katz published a post targeting FC Barcelona football player Lamine Yamal, stating the player chose against Israel and foment hatred while soldiers were fighting Hamas, an organisation 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?”
Is it moral to pass a law to ethnically cleanse Palestinians by labelling them as terrorists and putting them through kangaroo military courts before being subjected to death by hanging? Is it moral to flatten buildings with bombs that had civilians living in them, which caused them civilians to be massacred, and burned, Palestinian children, women, and elderly, since October 7 and still to this day?
Katz continued: “As the Minister of Defence of the State of Israel, I will not remain silent in the face of incitement against Israel and against Jewish people,” stating that he expected FC Barcelona to distance itself from statements made by Yamal and to make it ‘unequivocally clear there is no place for incitement or support of terrorism,’ (clearly, only the support of genocide is allowed).
Yamal responded to the criticism and attacks from Israeli media by publishing a picture of himself raising the Palestinian flag on social media.
It came after Walla described Yamal as an extremist who danced with the flag for a long time, claiming that while Yamal had become an hero in the Arab world, the Israeli public of Barcelona fans felt anger and pain due to his support of ‘Israel’s enemies.’
Other journalists took to X saying they were Barcelona fans and loved Lamine, such as Meir Freilichman, who said ‘I sincerely hope he gets injured and don’t play in the World Cup,’ in a spiteful tweet.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he didn’t like Yamal’s actions, and said that when speaking to Yamal, Flick said: If you want to do that, it’s your decision, you’re old enough.”
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Lamine Yamal ‘raised the flag of a non-existent entity and identified with terrorism.’
The Barcelona Supporters Association sent an official protest letter to the Barcelona management, warning of ‘potential economic repercussions’ due to what it described as ‘political provocation,’ adding that ‘hundreds of thousands of Israeli fans represent a significant consumer force for the club, and their voice must be taken seriously.’
