Barcelona president Joan Laporta has cancelled a planned ceremony honouring the club’s world champions at Camp Nou and replaced it with an event featuring the Estelada, the Catalan independence flag.
The decision, announced on Wednesday, follows what Laporta described as a “violent and disproportionate” assault on a minor who is a Barcelona member. The incident took place at Martinez Valero on Sunday, before Barcelona’s match against Elche, when the young member was allegedly attacked by officers from Spain’s National Police while carrying an Estelada.
The planned tribute had been due to take place on Thursday, around Barcelona’s match against Athletic Club. Laporta said the circumstances were no longer appropriate for the ceremony and criticised the use of football as a setting for political conflict.
“There will be no tribute to the world champions; instead, there will be a celebration of the Catalan independence flag,” said Laporta. “This flag represents the ideas of many Barcelona supporters and Catalans, and it falls within the framework of freedom of expression, which must be respected.”
In a strongly worded statement, the Barcelona president said the club had already contacted the alleged victim’s family to offer its full support. He described the images of the incident that had circulated as “shocking”.
Laporta also defended the Estelada as a legitimate political symbol, arguing that it should be possible to display it peacefully.
“Spain defines itself as a democratic state governed by the rule of law, where freedom of expression is a fundamental right,” he said. “The Catalan independence flag represents our aspirations for freedom, and it should be raised peacefully without putting the safety of those carrying it at risk.”
He added: “The use of football as a source of conflict benefits no-one.”
Barcelona has formally informed the Royal Spanish Football Federation of its decision. The club said the federation “fully understands” the move.
Laporta concluded his statement with a call for football to play a unifying role rather than intensify existing divisions.
“Football must be a means of unity, not a way to fuel conflict,” he said.
The alternative Estelada event will not be organised directly by Barcelona. According to Laporta, it is being arranged by the Catalan civic associations Omnium, ANC and Penyes, underlining the wider public and political nature of the issue.
Barcelona has also demanded an immediate investigation into the alleged assault. The club called for those responsible to be punished if the facts are confirmed.
It said the objective was to ensure that Barcelona supporters and Catalans could carry the Estelada without being exposed to physical danger.
The decision comes amid a politically sensitive atmosphere in Spain, with the incident at Martinez Valero turning a planned football ceremony into a wider dispute over policing, freedom of expression and the display of Catalan symbols. Laporta’s intervention has now placed the Estelada event at the centre of Thursday’s meeting with Athletic Club, rather than the originally scheduled celebration of the world champions.
