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

BarcelonaThere will be no ceremony for the world champions with Spain. "It is not the most appropriate context or moment. Football should serve to unite and not to generate confrontations that do not benefit anyone." Joan Laporta has confirmed that they will change the tribute to the world champions for an "act of exaltation of the estelada, which represents the way of thinking of many culers and Catalans". The president has reiterated that it is a legal element framed within freedom of expression. "It is a way of expressing ourselves peacefully that does not generate violence or hatred. The estelada must be respected because it represents our desires for freedom".

Laporta has once again rejected and condemned "the disproportionate and violent action" of the National Police who "assaulted a Barça member" 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 pertinent sanctions and punishments be applied". The blaugrana president hopes that the event that will take place this Thursday at the Camp Nou "will serve so that culers and Catalans can go with the estelada without our physical integrity being in danger and that this element ceases to be stigmatized by the State security and public order forces".

The pressure from various fan clubs and Catalan entities —which had called for a boycott of the event and to fill the Camp Nou with Catalan flags— has led Barça to make this decision. The Assemblea Nacional Catalana had already called on people to gather at the Josep Munté Gardens, in front of access 15 of the Camp Nou, on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. to show their rejection of the tribute that was to be held. In addition, 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 independence-supporting minors and confiscate Catalan flags, while we hear chants of «Puta Catalunya» in the stadiums," they say in a tweet, in reference to what was heard at the Metropolitano on Sunday, when part of the Atlético fans 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 flag to Camp Nou and shout "Independence, Catalan national teams!" at the moment when the ceremony for the world champions was to take place. In this way, the Barça club also avoids the possibility of seeing images like those from last Saturday at San Mamés, where a large part of the Athletic Club de Bilbao fans – rivals this Thursday at Camp Nou – received the world champions Nico Williams, Unai Simón, and Aymeric Laporte with whistles.