This is how Lamine Yamal's conscious gesture went around the world

BarcelonaThe flag of Palestine that Lamine Yamal waved for nearly five minutes from the bus of the Barça League celebration had been carried for a while by a fan following the parade. The blaugrana star maintained a low profile during the party, until at Passeig de Gràcia, before reaching the parade stop just in front of Casa Batlló, he himself asked for the flag to be brought to him. He did not shy away from the cameras while waving it: many fans captured an image that ended up going around the world due to its symbolic and political weight.

It was a gesture made with full awareness. Although Lamine Yamal had never spoken out about the genocide in Palestine, he is not unaware of it. In fact, his cousin and inseparable friend Mohamed Abde, who on his social media had shown some gesture of support for the Palestinian people, was among the first to share the image of the player with the flag of Palestine. Lamine Yamal does not make any gesture by chance, despite his youth: his circle explains that he is "very aware" of when he wants to send a message and that he is aware of the impact all his actions have. Even Pedro Sánchez has referred to it this Tuesday in the framework of a public appearance, in which he recalled that "Spain has recognized the state of Palestine and its right to exist".

Everything shared on your account has your final approval. Everything.Everything he shares on his account has his final approval. Everything.Lamine Yamal's closest circle, sensitive to the Palestinian people

Writing this message was her decision. Just as it was picking up the Palestinian flag, knowing that the image would go around the world. His paternal family is Muslim. In fact, his grandmother Fàtima raised and cared for him during the weekends of his childhood in the Mataró neighborhood of Rocafonda. Although his parents separated when he was very young and he went to live with his mother Sheila in Granollers – before moving to La Masia –, he remained deeply rooted in this neighborhood.

Lamine Yamal has great affection for Fàtima. When he started to make his mark on the first team of Barça, he continued to go, from time to time, to his grandmother's house for a snack, as he did as a child. She is the main influence that, last year, a few months before turning eighteen, led him to celebrate his first Ramadan. Thus, a good part of Lamine Yamal's childhood , although when he signed for Barça his maternal family moved to Barcelona –now they have bought him a house in Maresme– and he moved into La Masia.Besides his paternal family's home, his uncle Abdul ran the Panadería Arábica there and, now, in the neighborhood, he has a bar in honor of his nephew: Bar Familia LY 304. Abdul is the father of his cousin Moha, another very important figure in Lamine Yamal's childhood, along with Souhaib, his best friend. Both were at the Barça parade. Furthermore, they are also in charge of managing the team –La Capital CF– which Lamine Yamal presides over in Gerard Piqué's Kings League. It is common to see Palestinian flags among the fans of this team.

Other sports personalities who have spoken out about the genocide

Furthermore, one of the favorite singers of the Barcelona star is Morad, who has also shown sensitivity to the cause of the Palestinian people. Morad, like other world-renowned artists such as Rosalía or Bad Gyal, was one of the participants in the massive concert-protest that the solidarity platform Act x Palestine organized in Barcelona on January 29th. Pep Guardiola, former player and former coach of Barça and for nine seasons coach of Manchester City, also spoke out there.

Several world-renowned athletes have sided with the Palestinian people. In a global showcase like the 2022 Football World Cup, many of the players of the Moroccan national team, as well as their coach in the 2022 World Cup, Walid Regragui, celebrated their triumphs by carrying Palestinian flags on the pitch. Former Real Madrid players Karim Benzema and Mesut Özil, Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah, NBA star Kyrie Irving, and Olympic medalist Ana Peleteiro are other world-class athletes who have condemned the genocide.

For his part, Barça coach Hansi Flick has said that these are things he doesn't normally like, referring to Lamine Yamal making a political gesture. "I have spoken with him and told him that if he wants to do it, it is his decision. He is over 18 years old, he is of legal age. We are dedicated to playing football and we have to take into account what people expect from us," the German coach stated on the eve of Wednesday's visit to Vitoria to face Alavés.