World
Spain defends soccer star Lamine Yamal over Israel’s criticism of Palestinian flag display
JTA – Spain’s government is defending soccer star Lamine Yamal after Israel’s defence minister accused him of inciting “hatred” against Israel by waving a Palestinian flag during celebrations following a title win.
Yamal, 18, whose father is Moroccan, is a phenomenon on the FC Barcelona team. He waved the Palestinian flag while riding in an open-top bus during FC Barcelona’s celebrations after winning Spain’s top professional soccer league title, La Liga, on 11 May.
Following the parade in Barcelona, which drew roughly 750 000 supporters, Yamal posted a photo of himself waving the flag on his Instagram account, which has more than 42 million followers.
The display prompted sharp criticism from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who tweeted that Yamal had chosen to “incite against Israel and foster hatred while our soldiers are fighting the terrorist organisation Hamas”.
Katz called on FC Barcelona to distance itself from Yamal’s actions and “make it unequivocally clear that there is no place for incitement or for support of terrorism”, according to a translation of his remarks by Politico.
Following the display, Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, told reporters that it was something “I don’t normally like”, adding that he had spoken to Yamal and that it was “his decision”, according to ESPN.
But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez forcefully rejected Katz’s criticism in a post on X, writing that those who considered waving a national flag to be “inciting hatred” had either “lost their minds or have been blinded by their own ignominy”.
“Lamine has merely expressed the solidarity with Palestine that millions of Spaniards feel,” Sánchez said, according to Politico. “Yet another reason to be proud of him.”
Spain is one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Israel, with the country officially recognising Palestinian statehood in May 2024 and permanently withdrawing its ambassador to Israel in March amid the Iran war.
Spain was also one of five countries to boycott the Eurovision song competition over Israel’s participation.
Beyond Spain, tensions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have also surfaced across European soccer, with England’s Aston Villa Football Club prohibiting Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending a match last year amid security concerns. Officials said that decision was spurred by sweeping violence that unfolded around a Maccabi Tel Aviv-Ajax match in Amsterdam in 2024.
Last month, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, told JTA that the United States will bar individuals who are accused of fostering antisemitism in their home countries from attending the coming World Cup.
Ryan
May 19, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Does Katz think that all Palistinians are Hamas?
Also, it was not Villa who decided to stop Maccabi fans from traveling, it was the West Midlands Police.
Ian Levinson
May 20, 2026 at 4:16 pm
comment:
No, Katz doesn’t think all Palestinians are Hamas — but Hamas has embedded itself in Palestinian society and uses civilians as cover, which is why the distinction gets blurred. The issue here isn’t about painting every Palestinian as a terrorist, it’s about recognizing Hamas as a terror group that exploits the Palestinian cause.
And on the travel ban: correct, it was the West Midlands Police who made the call to stop Maccabi fans from traveling, not Aston Villa. But let’s be clear — the fact that Jewish fans had to be blocked for “security” reasons shows how deep the problem runs. When Jews can’t attend a football match because of threats, that’s not about sport, that’s about antisemitism spilling into public life whether you like it or not.
Ryan
May 26, 2026 at 9:23 am
I am sorry, but if seeing a Palestinian flag offends you, that sounds like a you problem. Katz clearly thinks just showing the flag incites hate and is de-facto in support of terrorism, so I do not think you are too well positioned to speak on his behalf.
I am sure you have spoken to Yamal and have clarified with him that his support extends to Hamas, seeing as you feel confident to speak on his political positions as well? Or do you just assume anyone who sympathises with Palestinians is not capable of distinguishing them from Hamas?
Correction is not justification, its important to be factually accurate when you publicly publish articles.
Ian Levinson
May 29, 2026 at 5:14 pm
You still don’t get it. FIFA regulations are crystal clear: flags other than those of the teams actually playing are not permitted in stadiums. Full stop. This isn’t about your tired narrative of “terrorism” or “hate” that you drag into every comment — it’s simply the rule.
So instead of inventing motives and projecting your own obsessions, maybe try reading the regulations. Until then, spare us the spin. Try again.
Ryan
June 3, 2026 at 9:59 am
Dude, this was not at a FIFA event. This has nothing to do with FIFA. This was a Barca event. Keep crying bro.
Katse Magonyane
May 20, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Lamin play soccer and get out of politic
Ian Levinson
May 23, 2026 at 7:34 am
Well said. A footballer waving a Palestinian flag in Spain is exactly the kind of incident that shows why the EPL, FA Cup, and UEFA ban all flags and emblems other than those of the teams playing. These rules exist to keep football about the sport, not to turn stadiums into political battlegrounds. When flags are used to push agendas, it risks inflaming divisions and undermining the unity that football is meant to inspire.
Ian Levinson
May 20, 2026 at 4:13 pm
In cricket, the rules are clear: only team flags and emblems are allowed inside the stadium. No politics, no banners, no distractions. But in football, Spain defends Lamine Yamal waving a Palestinian flag — bending the rules to fit Sánchez’s agenda.
Sports should be about competition, not political theater. When governments hijack the game, they turn the pitch into a stage for ideology instead of fair play.
Danton Seal
May 21, 2026 at 7:03 am
Why do we care about criticism from any Israeli officials? They are completely predictable and irrelevant
Ian Levinson
June 3, 2026 at 5:31 pm
@Ryan
No, Ryan — you’re wrong again. Flags unrelated to the teams playing are prohibited under UEFA regulations. Stadium displays are restricted to official protocol flags (UEFA, FIFA, national associations) and the competing teams’ flags. Political, religious, or unrelated banners are banned. Same rules apply here. So instead of twisting reality, maybe take your antisemitism elsewhere. Is trolling Jewish publications your hobby, or just a mental condition? Keep crying, bro.”
Ryan
June 4, 2026 at 3:03 pm
FIFA Law 4 strictly bans the display of political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images. However, this law exclusively applies to equipment worn on the pitch, inside the stadium, and during the active match window. It does not govern a player’s private conduct on public city streets during a parade.
Sorry, Ian, I am correct.
Lets look at what has happened here, seeing as you could not respond to me, you fell back on a FIFA law you dont understand and then proceeded to call a fellow jew and antisemite when you saw you had nowhere else to go. Shameful.
Ian Levinson
June 5, 2026 at 12:12 pm
So you condone the waving of terrorist emblems on a Jewish website by people openly calling for Israel’s destruction and the murder of Jews worldwide? That says everything about where you stand. The Palestinian flag in this context is not some innocent gesture — it is a hostile political symbol, deeply offensive to our community.
I’ll leave it with you, since you approve of a sportsman waving terrorist emblems. You call yourself a fellow Jew, but it doesn’t sound like it. Then again, Ronald Kasrils rejoiced at 10/7 and Bernie Sanders has repeatedly failed to stop arms sales to Israel — both examples of self‑loathing Jews. I’m sure you’ve heard the term.
Shabbat Shalom, Ryan.
Ryan
June 8, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Oh go cry more.
If you need to paint any sign of solidarity with the Palestinians as a sign of supporting terrorism, you are no different from the antisemites who paint all of us Jews as being in line with Bibi, Smotrich and Ben Gvir.
Kasrils is a pig and if the idiots in America had more sense and voted in Bernie over this idiot Trump we would all be better off.
Go find other strawmen to attack instead of throwing around self-hating jew and antisemite because you can’t defend your own piss poor opinions.
Ian Levinson
June 10, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Chief, open borders and boys allowed in girls’ change rooms won’t win you an election. It didn’t matter who was running for GOP — the Democrats were done. That’s why they were voted out not because Trump was running and the way they are carrying on with their socialism they can forget about the midterms as well. Cheers.
Ian Levinson
June 10, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Oh, I’m not crying — I’m just not falling for your tired talking points. Every time someone points out that groups or sportmen flying the Palestinian flag often do so in support of Hamas, you scream ‘strawman.’ But Hamas is a terrorist organization, and pretending solidarity with them is just ‘human rights’ is dishonest. Try Again chief.
Ryan
June 15, 2026 at 2:59 pm
Oh sweet, sweet Ian.
You can say you are not falling for my talking points, but I would more accurately describe it as not actually addressing anything I am saying. You were wrong about FIFA rule 4, you keep insisting you know what people’s politics are without speaking to them. This is the blind defensive reflex we as diaspora Jews need to fight against to save our country from the Bibi’s, the Ben Gvir’s and the Smotrich’s.
Seeing as you have the political insights of a 12-year-old twitter user I will leave it at this…Trump is 1000% losing the house in November. Check back then.