Barcelona vow to protect supporters after tensions at Elche

Barcelona have condemned what they describe as the “excessive” use of force against their supporters before Sunday’s La Liga match at Elche and have warned that legal action could follow.

The Catalan club issued a strongly worded statement on Monday after incidents around the Martinez Valero Stadium involving members and travelling fans. Barcelona said the events had caused “great concern” and criticised the treatment of supporters who had followed the team to the match.

The club highlighted the arrest of one Barcelona supporter, describing the incident as “excessive” and saying the force used lacked the “necessary consistency and appropriateness”. Barcelona expressed its full solidarity with the detained fan and his family, and said it offered its unconditional support.

The statement also focused on the removal of Catalan independence flags, known as estelades, from supporters before they entered the stadium. Barcelona said police officers had once again confiscated the flags, which are commonly associated with the Catalan independence movement.

Barcelona argued that the estelada is a “legal symbol” and that displaying it represents a legitimate expression of freedom of speech protected by law. The club added that the flag “cannot, in itself, be considered incitement to hatred or violence”.

The club said it was waiting for the authorities responsible to provide the necessary explanations about what happened. It also made clear that it had not ruled out taking legal steps in response to the incidents.

The statement concluded with a warning that Barcelona would act to defend its supporters and members wherever necessary.

The club said: “The club reserves the right to take any action it considers necessary to protect the integrity of its members and supporters, as well as their rights and freedom of expression, whether at Spotify Camp Nou or while travelling to the stadiums of opposing teams.”

Footage shared online appeared under the caption: “This happened around the Martinez Valero Stadium. A Barca fan arrested.” The post described the video as exclusive and included references to the Elche-Barcelona fixture.

Barcelona’s complaint comes after a matchday marked by tension outside the ground, with the club saying that both its members and travelling supporters were affected. Its statement did not provide further details of the arrest or identify the authorities involved, but it placed particular emphasis on the use of force and the removal of the flags.

The club’s position is that supporters should be able to express their views lawfully and travel to away matches without their rights being compromised. Barcelona has now asked for clarification from the relevant bodies while retaining the option of pursuing the matter through legal channels.