Lamine Yamal waves Palestine flag during Barcelona title celebrations
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Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:19
It comes a month after Spanish football superstar spoke out against anti-Muslim chanting during international friendly
Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal waves a Palestine flag during Barcelona's parade to celebrate their title win on 11 May 2026 (Screengrab)
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Football superstar Lamine Yamal waved a Palestine flag during Barcelona’s title winning celebrations on Monday, garnering praise on social media.
Tens of thousands of fans took to the streets of the Spanish city to celebrate with the team after they sealed another La Liga trophy.
Barcelona confirmed the title win with a 2-0 victory over rivals Real Madrid on Sunday night.
During the open top bus parade, Yamal, the 18-year old Spanish star who is one of the best players in the world, hoisted up a large Palestinian flag.
Barcelona has been a hub of pro-Palestine activism in recent years, and has been the departure point for aid flotilla attempting to break the siege on the Gaza Strip.
The gesture on Monday was not the first time Yamal has used his platform to speak out on issues.
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Last month, he spoke out after Spanish football fans partook in anti-Muslim chanting during a friendly against Egypt.
He said at the time: "Yesterday at the stadium, a chant was heard: 'Whoever doesn't jump is a Muslim.' I know it was aimed at the opposing team and wasn't something personal against me, but as a Muslim, this still counts as disrespectful and unacceptable behaviour.
"I understand that not all the fans are like that, but to those who chant phrases like this: using religion for mockery in the stadium makes you ignorant and racist people.
"Football was created for enjoyment and cheering, not for insulting people because of who they are or what they believe in".
He is also not the first footballer in Spain in recent days to wave a Palestinian flag.
Ilias Akhomach, a former Barcelona winger, waved a Palestine flag during celebrations after Rayo Vallecano beat Strasbourg in the Uefa Conference League semi-final last week.
Spain-Israel relations
Spain has been one of the few European governments to consistently condemn Israel’s conduct in Gaza and label it a genocide, and in 2025 banned ships and aircraft carrying weapons to Israel from using Spanish ports or airspace.
Spain also recognised a Palestinian state in May 2024, prompting Israel to recall its ambassador from Madrid.
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Relations deteriorated further after Spain’s ambassador to Israel, Ana Maria Salomon Perez, was initially summoned home for consultations in September last year after a diplomatic dispute with Pedro Sanchez's government following his decision to impose nine measures against Israel, including a full arms embargo.
The two countries are now without ambassadors, as Israel's previous ambassador left his post in 2024.
In January, the Spanish prime minister also refused to join US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace plan for running Gaza, denouncing it as a violation of international law, and rejecting its exclusion of the Palestinian Authority.
Tensions have escalated again over the US-Israeli war on Iran as Sanchez has strongly criticised the military campaign as illegal, and has refused to allow the US to use jointly operated military bases in southern Spain for operations linked to strikes on Iran.
The decision triggered a public clash with Trump, who accused Spain of being "unfriendly" and threatened to cut off trade with the country after Madrid denied Washington access to the bases.
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