Barcelona scrap World Cup tribute to back Catalan independence after police clash with fans

Barcelona have scrapped a ceremony to honour their World Cup-winning players ahead of Thursday’s La Liga home match against Athletic Club, after police clashed with a supporter carrying a Catalan independence flag at last weekend’s away fixture at Elche.

Club president Joan Laporta announced the cancellation in a message to supporters, saying the club would instead distribute Catalan independence flags outside the Spotify Camp Nou for fans to fill the stands with. The tribute had been proposed by the Spanish Football Federation and would have put Lamine Yamal, new signing Rodri, and Golden Boy winner Pau Cubarsí in the spotlight as part of celebrations taking place across La Liga.

“The board of directors have decided that this honorary act will not take place,” Laporta said. “Because we don’t feel as though this is the adequate moment or scenario to hold this tribute, and for that reason we will not do it. We believe football should serve to unite the people, and not to generate certain situations which I don’t think benefit anyone.”

Laporta added that the Spanish Federation had been informed and “understood our position perfectly”.

The decision follows what Barcelona described as “disproportionate and violent” conduct by national police, who the club accused of “attacking” a Barça member for bringing a Catalan independence flag to the pre-match area before the Elche fixture.

“We at Barcelona reject and condemn the disproportionate and violent actions of the national police,” Laporta said, adding that the club expects “appropriate punishment” to follow. “The images are horrifying and very clear.”

Laporta framed the flag demonstration as a peaceful act of expression. “It represents the way of thinking of many culers and Catalans,” he said. “It is a way of expressing ourselves in a peaceful way, and it doesn’t generate violence or hatred.”

He also expressed hope that the Camp Nou display would set a precedent, saying he wants Barça fans to be able to attend future matches with the flag “without feeling in any danger of physical harm”.

The incident adds another layer of political tension to Barcelona’s early-season calendar, with the club’s Catalan identity and its relationship with Spanish state institutions once again at the forefront.