The club had planned a special
ceremony for the eight Barcelona players who were part of Spain’s World
Cup-winning squad. The group includes Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Pau
Cubarsi, Gavi, Rodri, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal—the highest number of players
from any single club.
The controversy intensified
ahead of Thursday’s La Liga home match against Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou,
where around 10,000 small Estelada flags were distributed among supporters by a
local organisation. Large flags and banners were also visible in the stands as
fans raised them while the club anthem was played.
Local media also reported
that thousands of supporters marched around Camp Nou carrying Estelada flags
before the match.
The latest developments
followed an incident last week before Barcelona’s match against Elche, when
police confiscated an Estelada flag from a young Barcelona supporter. The
supporter was reportedly detained after arguing with police officers and being
struck with a baton.
Barcelona expressed regret
over the incident, saying the Estelada is a legally recognised symbol and that
displaying it constitutes a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression. The
club also criticised the way the supporter was detained and questioned the
justification for the use of force.
Explaining the decision to
cancel the tribute, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the timing was not
appropriate.
We cannot organise something
like this at the moment. Football should bring people together. We cannot
create conflict, Laporta said.
Other Spanish clubs have previously
held joint ceremonies with the Spanish Football Federation to honour the World
Cup-winning players. Those events included displays of the World Cup trophy and
appearances by Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.
Barcelona, however, will not follow that sequence after the controversy surrounding the Estelada flag.
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Published Date : August 28, 2026
