Barça considers suspending tribute to world champions with Spain

BarcelonaThe incidents with a fan in Elche last Sunday on Barça's league debut have generated pressure from the Culer fan base. Several Barça fan clubs and Catalan entities have called for a boycott of the tribute to the eight world champions —Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Rodri— which was to take place this Thursday before the Barça-Athletic Club match. According to what ARA has learned, the Barça Board of Directors has doubts about whether or not to carry out this act and a definitive decision is expected to be made this Wednesday.

The Catalan National Assembly has called for people to gather at the Josep Munté Gardens, in front of access 15 of Camp Nou, this Thursday at 8:15 PM to show their rejection of the tribute. In addition, the Catalan entity has announced that it will distribute 10,000 estelades (Catalan flags) outside the stadium to fill the stands. "The Spanish and colonizing police beat pro-independence minors and confiscate estelades, while we hear chants of 'Puta Catalunya' in the stadiums," they explained in a tweet in reference to what was heard at the Metropolitano last Sunday, where part of the Atletico fans insulted Barça and Catalonia.

On the other hand, the Barcelona supporters' club Sang Culé Cor Català had already called on August 19 —before the incidents in Elche occurred— to bring the estelada to the Camp Nou and shout "Independence for Catalan selections!" at the time of the tribute. Other Barça fan groups like Nostra Ensenya or Almogàvers condemned the Police's "disproportionate and unjustified" actions, but have not announced any protest before the match. They did demand "measures to put an end to this dynamic and ensure that sporting trips are carried out with scrupulous respect for fundamental rights and the integrity of all people".

Whistle at San Mamés

The tribute events for the world champions with Spain are being held in various stadiums across Spanish territory, and this Wednesday it will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid) and Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) will be present. Additionally, the Barcelona players who traveled to Elche last Sunday —Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Eric Garcia, Gavi, Joan Garcia, Dani Olmo, and Pau Cubarsí— received a commemorative plaque from the Elche club for the second star won last July.

On the other hand, at San Mamés, the fans received the three Athletic Club World Cup players —Unai Simon, Nico Williams, and Laporte— with whistles and chants in favor of the Basque national team. A sign of the dissatisfaction of the Bilbao team's followers with the act.