Spain's Prime Minister backs Lamine Yamal over Palestine flag incident

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FT Desk

Lamine Yamal has received public backing from the Prime Minister from Spain following criticism, from certain areas, over the Barcelona forward flying a Palestine flag at a La Liga title party.

On Sunday, Barcelona won La Liga and did so for the first time in their history by defeating Real Madrid in the Clasico. Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres got on the scoresheet as the Blaugrana gained the points required to secure the championship.

Yamal was injured and didn't take part, but he was front and centre in the title parade in the city earlier this week.

At one point, he took out a Palestine flag, showing solidarity with those suffering in the war in Gaza.

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Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz had accused Yamal of inciting "hate against Israel."

Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, posted on Twitter a show of support for the Barca superstar, who is Muslim.

"Those who consider waving the flag of a State to be "inciting hatred" have either lost their judgment or been blinded by their own ignominy. Lamine has only expressed the solidarity with Palestine felt by millions of Spaniards. Another reason to be proud of him."

Sanchez, Spain's government and a large part of the country's population have been highly critical of Israel's campaign against Palestine that has killed more than 70,000 citizens, including women and children, since early October 2023.

Yamal was in the headlines for plenty of reasons at the trophy parade as he also took time out to troll rivals, Real Madrid.

Madrid are hurting due to some internal turmoil, and Yamal has been rubbing salt in the wounds with his social media activity this week.

First, he wrote "talk is cheap" with laughing emojis on a post on Instagram, in reference to Madrid star Jude Bellingham previously posting that on social media.

Then, during Barcelona's trophy parade in the city on Monday, he posted a picture of himself with a Barcelona kit that had emblazoned on the back, 'THANK GOD I'M NOT MADRIDISTA'.

Speaking to the club's media during the parade, he said:

"It’s incredible. The fans are always with us, on the important days and also on the less important ones. This is the club of our lives. We’ll always be here for them.

“We love them. We have to value every title and every year that we win because it’s not easy. We’ve gone through some very difficult years, but now we’re enjoying ourselves a lot.

“You think it’s a Monday, people in Barcelona have work, but they’re still here with us."