Interior opens disciplinary proceedings against the police officers who assaulted the Barça member who was carrying an estelada

BarcelonaThe Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, confirmed this Wednesday that they will open a file for a "presumed very serious or serious misconduct" against the police officers who, on August 23rd, assaulted a Barça member, a minor, in the vicinity of the Elche stadium. "The actions taken are in no way justified, regardless of whether the person was carrying a symbol that is absolutely legitimate in a rule-of-law state," Marlaska replied to Junts per Catalunya deputy Marta Madrenas during the control session of the Government of Spain in Congress. In the video distributed through social media, the agents can be seen hitting the minor, who ends up on the ground, after taking an estelada flag from him.

Barça reported the events and took on the defense of the blue-and-red member through criminal lawyer Marc Molins, as reported by ARA. The victim, who spent the night at the police station and suffered multiple wounds and bruises all over his body, is facing a charge of assault against authority, which in his case (he is a minor) could lead to a few months of supervised probation or community service. The organization reiterated, through its president Joan Laporta, that the estelada is a "legal symbol, the display of which constitutes a legitimate manifestation of freedom of expression”.

New case of violence in Alcorcón

It has not been the only incident that has been experienced in recent weeks in the world of football. Last Sunday, Europa denounced through its social media that a fan of the Gràcia club had been assaulted in Alcorcón for displaying an estelada. "The fan identified himself and at all times followed the instructions given to him by the agents. Despite this, according to other 'escapulat' fans present there, the agents grabbed him by the neck, threw him to the ground, and beat him. Furthermore, they relate that they confiscated his estelada and even wanted to force him to say that he was Spanish, while he was also threatened with a possible sanction in application of the Sports Law", reported the sports entity on its X account.

Madrenas has also denounced this police action in the Congress of Deputies, but the Minister of the Interior has reminded that it is necessary to "contextualize and evaluate" each incident and has assured that the circumstances are "absolutely different".