Barcelona fans to wave Saltire at cup final after Catalan flag ban

[ian1964 10,431]

Supporters have been banned from waving the Catalan flag at the Copa del Rey final.

 

Superstars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr. will be greeted by the sight of 10,000 Scotland flags when Barcelona take on Sevilla this weekend.

 

The Copa del Rey final has once again been caught up in controversy over the Barca fans desire to fly the Estelada - the symbol of Catalan separatism - during Sunday's showpiece match.

 

Now supporters have chosen the Saltire for their protest, with 10,000 flags to be handed out ahead of the match at the Vicente Calderon in Madrid.

 

According to a report in Spain's Mundo Deportivo newspaper, the Scotland flags will be waved as the teams walk out, under the slogan "Nos podrán prohibir llevar una bandera, pero no nos podrán prohibir jamás la libertad" ("You may prohibit our flags but you will never prohibit our freedom").

 

The flags will be waved again after 17 minutes and 14 seconds (1714 being the year that Catalunya became part of the Spanish kingdom).

 

The display is being organised by the Catalan National Assembly who will distribute the flags from the Barcelona fanzone in the Spanish capital.

 

In an official statement released on Thursday, an FC Barcelona spokesman said: "FC Barcelona expresses, in the most absolute terms, its total and complete disagreement with the announcement prohibiting the display of Estelada flags at the final of the Copa del Rey.

 

"FC Barcelona has always defended, and will continue to defend, the freedom of expression of all its members and fans, who have always displayed a high level of civility and respect.

 

"FC Barcelona calls for the use of common sense and responsibility and demands the government representative's cooperation in creating the good atmosphere a match such as the Copa del Rey final deserves."

 

Spanish government officials said the Estelada ban was part of security measures being implemented for the game.

 

http://stv.tv/sport/football/1354756-barcelona-fans-to-wave-saltire-at-cup-final-after-catalan-flag-ban/

[TotalFootball 0]

What a pile of nonsense.

 

Someone should remind them that over 62% of the people in Scotland didn't want change enough to vote for it.

Edited May 20, 2016 by TotalFootball

[craig 5,199]

The ban has been overturned.

[RANGERRAB 3,291]

If Catalonia became independent would Barcelona still play in La Liga?

I'd bet many Spaniards would want them chucked out and forced to play in a new Catalonian league

[buster. 4,808]

The ban has been overturned.

 

And rightly so.

 

To ban it not only was wrong but was always going to backfire.