Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz criticized one of FC Barcelona’s captains, 18-year-old Lamin Yamal, who waved the Palestinian flag during the team’s championship parade.
After winning the Spanish Championship, Barcelona players organized a parade on May 11, during which they rode the club bus through the city streets. Midfielder Lamine Yamal (of Moroccan origins on his father’s side, but plays for the Spanish national team) waved the Palestinian flag during this trip.
May 14, Head of the Israeli Ministry of Defense books He wrote on his social networks in Spanish that Yamal “decided to make provocative statements against Israel and incite hatred” while Israeli soldiers were “fighting the Hamas terrorist organization.”
Anyone who supports such statements must ask themselves: Do they consider them humanitarian? Is this ethical?
As Minister of Defense of the State of Israel, I will not remain silent in the face of incitement against Israel and the Jewish people.
I expect a big and respected club like Barcelona to distance itself from these statements and make clear that there is no place for incitement or support of terrorism.
German team coach Hansi Flick, who was asked about this episode in a press conference on May 12, He replied“I don’t usually like that.” Flick added: “I spoke to him. He said: If he wants it, it’s his decision. He’s old enough now. He’s 18 years old.”
Even before the participation of Israel Katz, the official Barcelona fan club in Israel published On his Facebook page, a statement he allegedly received from the football club.
FC Barcelona is proud to represent a global community of fans from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and nationalities, including the Israeli community, and we deeply value this diversity.
Barcelona indicated in a statement that there is no intention to make any political statement on behalf of the football club during the tournament celebrations, and also wrote that it does not support messages “directed against any community, state or nation” and expressed its gratitude to the Israeli fans.