FC Barcelona condemned what they called the "disproportionate use of force" against their members and fans during the incident which took place outside the Martinez Valero Stadium before their LaLiga match against Elche on Sunday. The club has also offered support to the Barcelona supporter who was detained during the incident and his family.
Incident Details
The incident took place as Barcelona supporters arrived at the stadium for the match. Videos are circulating on social media which shows that the National Police officers are trying to confiscate the Estelada flags from some of the young Barca supporters near the entrance of the venue.
What Is Estelada Flag?
The Estelada is a Catalan flag which is associated with the independence movement and is also seen regularly during the Barcelona FC matches.
Tensions raised when police officers brutally thrashed two very young fans who were waiting at the entrance to spectate the game. They were seen beating the young boys with kicks, punches and sticks.
There are reports that the supporter was detained from outside the stadium after which the club issued an official statement while condemning the police brutality and also extending support to the young fan.
What Barcelona Said
In its official statement, Barcelona said it "condemns the disproportionate use of force" against its members and fans. The club said the procedure used to detain one of its supporters was disproportionate and that the use of force lacked the necessary justification and appropriateness.
Barcelona also said that it had made itself available to the detained fan and his family to offer any support they may need.
The club also criticised the confiscation of Estelada flags from its supporters. The club also said that the Estelada is a legally endorsed symbol and that displaying it is a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression. It added that the flag, by itself, should not be considered an incitement to hatred or violence.
Political Reactions
The incident has since led to political reactions in Spain. Junts and Esquerra Republicana have asked the Spanish Interior Ministry for explanations and called for an investigation into the police operation.
Junts has also questioned the legal basis for confiscating the Estelada flags, while the parties have raised concerns about the proportionality of the police response.
The Catalan club defeated Elche 5-0 at the Martinez Valero, with Raphinha and FermÃn Lopez scoring twice each and Karim Adeyemi also finding the net. The match was Barcelona's first league game of the season and Matchday 2.
