Catalanophobia: Spanish Police Charges, Catalan Flags Confiscated and Catalans Injured to the Hospital

Barça fans have once again been the target of repression and hostility on a League match marked by Catalanophobia. In Elx, the Spanish brutal police charged at Barça supporters, confiscated with no legal reason their Catalan stared flags and arrested at least one person. Meanwhile, at the Metropolitano in Madrid, Atlético fans chanted "fucking Barça, fucking Catalonia" while whistling and insulting Julián Álvarez, the player who wants to sign for the Catalan club.

According to the fans present at the Martínez Valero, when they arrived at the Elxstadium for the second match of the League match, Police officers confiscated their estelades and other flags. There were insults and incidents with local fans waiting at the gates. The police charged hard to separate the two fans. At least one Catalan fan was arrested and some Barça fans ended up in a hospital after being beaten.

The Penya Almogàvers has summed it up forcefully: "Once again, Barça fans are suffering from the Catalanophobia of the police. Unjustified charges, gratuitous violence, insults, confiscated esteladas and people arrested. We expect a formal and forceful complaint from FC Barcelona in defense of the Barça fans."

FC Barcelona statement: the use of force lacked the necessary justification and appropriateness

FC Barcelona condemns the disproportionate use of force against club members and fans during the incidents that took place yesterday in the vicinity of the Martínez Valero stadium ahead of the league game against Elx.

In particular, the club considers that the procedure used to detain one of our fans was disproportionate and that the use of force lacked the necessary justification and appropriateness. FC Barcelona has made itself available to the detained fan and his family to offer them any support they may require.

FC Barcelona also regrets that, once again, police officers confiscated stared Catalan flags from Barça fans. The Estelada is a legally endorsed symbol and its display constitutes a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression. As such, it cannot in itself be considered an incitement to hatred or violence.

FC Barcelona awaits the relevant explanations regarding these events and reserves the right to take whatever action it deems appropriate to defend the integrity, rights and freedom of expression of its members and fans, both at Spotify Camp Nou and at opposing teams’ stadiums.