Barça changes the tribute to the world champions with Spain for an "act of exaltation of the estelada"

BarcelonaThere will be no tribute at Camp Nou to the world champions with Spain on the eve of this Thursday's match against Athletic Club (9 p.m., DAZN). "It is neither the context nor the most appropriate moment. Football should serve to unite and not to generate confrontations that do not benefit anyone," declared Joan Laporta, before confirming that Barça will change the congratulations to the internationals for an "act of exaltation of the estelada, which represents the way of thinking of many Barça fans and Catalans". The blaugrana president, who since 2021 had maintained a low profile regarding manifestations close to independence and who at the World Cup showed explicit support for la roja, reiterated that the estelada is a legal symbol within freedom of expression. "It does not generate violence or hatred. It must be respected because it represents our aspirations for freedom," he stated.

Laporta once again rejected and condemned "the disproportionate and violent action" of the National Police who "attacked a Barça member" (a minor) on the eve of the match at Elche's stadium: "The images are shocking and very clear. Once the facts are reconfirmed, we ask that the relevant sanctions and punishments be applied." The blaugrana executive hopes that the event that will take place this Thursday at Camp Nou "will serve so that Barça fans and Catalans can go with the estelada without our physical integrity being in danger and that this symbol ceases to be stigmatized by the State security and public order forces".

The pressure from various fan clubs and Catalan entities — who had called for a boycott of the event and to fill the Camp Nou with Catalan flags— has helped Barça make this decision. The Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC) had already called on people to gather at the Josep Munté Gardens, in front of access 15 of Camp Nou, on Thursday at 8:15 PM to show their rejection of the tribute that was to be held. Furthermore, the entity has announced that it will distribute 10,000 Catalan flags outside the stadium to fill the stands. "The Spanish and colonizing police beat up underage independentists and confiscate Catalan flags, while we hear chants of 'Puta Catalunya' in the stadiums," they say in a tweet, referring to what was heard at the Metropolitano on Sunday, when part of the Atlético fan base insulted Barça and Catalonia.

On the other hand, the Barcelona supporters' club Sang Culé - Cor Català already called on August 19 – before the incidents in Elche – to bring the Estelada (Catalan flag) to the Camp Nou and shout "Independence, Catalan national teams!" at the moment the ceremony for the world champions was to take place. In this way, the Blaugrana club also avoids the possibility of seeing images like those from last Saturday at San Mamés, where a large part of the Athletic Club fans – rivals this Thursday at the Camp Nou – jeered the world champions Nico Williams, Unai Simón, and Aymeric Laporte. At the Martínez Valero in Elche, the Blaugrana World Cup champions (Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia, Pau Cubarsí, and Eric Garcia) were already applauded before the (0-5) thrashing in the first league match.