Joan Laporta cancels Barcelona tribute after alleged police assault at Elche

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has cancelled a planned ceremony honouring world champions at Camp Nou on Thursday and replaced it with a celebration centred on the Estelada, the Catalan independence flag.

Laporta made the announcement on Wednesday after an incident at Martinez Valero before Barcelona’s match against Elche on Sunday. The club says a minor member was subjected to what Laporta described as a “violent and disproportionate” assault by members of the Spanish National Police for carrying the independence flag.

The decision has caused a strong reaction in both Spanish football and political circles, with Laporta saying the circumstances were no longer appropriate for the tribute, which had been scheduled to take place around Thursday’s match against Athletic Club.

In a strongly worded statement, Laporta condemned the incident and said Barcelona had already contacted the victim’s family to offer every form of support. He described footage of the event that had circulated publicly as “shocking”.

“There will be no tribute to the world champions; instead, there will be a celebration of the Catalan independence flag,” Laporta said. “This flag represents the thinking of many Barcelona supporters and Catalans, and it falls within the framework of freedom of expression, which must be respected.”

Defending the use of the Estelada, Laporta added: “Spain defines itself as a democratic state governed by the rule of law, where freedom of expression is a fundamental right. The Catalan independence flag represents our aspirations for freedom, and it must be raised peacefully without putting the safety of those carrying it at risk.”

He said the original ceremony had been cancelled because “using football as a source of conflict benefits no-one”, insisting that the atmosphere surrounding the alleged assault meant Thursday’s planned event could not go ahead as intended.

Barcelona said it had formally informed the Royal Spanish Football Federation of the decision and that the federation “fully understands the situation”.

“Football must be a means of unity, not of fuelling conflict,” Laporta said.

The alternative gathering will not be organised directly by Barcelona. According to Laporta, it is being arranged by Catalan civil society organisations Omnium, ANC and Penyes, underlining the event’s popular and community-led character.

Barcelona has also called for an immediate investigation into the incident. The club wants those responsible to be punished if the facts are confirmed, with the stated aim of ensuring “that Barcelona supporters and Catalans can carry the Estelada flag without putting their physical safety at risk”.

The alleged assault took place before Barcelona faced Elche at Martinez Valero on Sunday. Laporta’s response means the dispute will now form the backdrop to the club’s home fixture against Athletic Club on Thursday, replacing what had been intended as a celebratory tribute with a politically charged public event.