CATALAN nationalists will distribute 10,000 Scottish flags ahead of Spain’s football championship final to encourage Barcelona fans to protest at the prohibition of a separatist flag.
Spanish authorities have banned the Estelada, a symbol of Catalan nationalism, from the Copa Del Rey final between Barcelona and Sevilla on Saturday.
In protest, the Catalan National Assembly has joined forces with other nationalist organisations to distribute 10,000 Saltires outside the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid.
They have urged fans to wave the flags when the players go out on the pitch ahead of the match and at 17.14 minutes, in reference to Catatonia’s incorporation into the Spanish kingdom in 1714.
The Catalan National Assembly said: “Faced with the decision of the Spanish government’s delegate in Madrid, civil society organisations have chosen to fill the stands with Scottish flags.
“We chose this symbol because it allows us to denounce the difference between the treatment Catalonia receives from Spain and the treatment Scotland receives from the UK Government.”
Catalonia is an industrialised region in north-east Spain, with a distinct language and culture which was suppressed during the 1939-1975 military dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
It has seen a recent surge in independence sentiment since Spain’s highest court struck down key parts of a charter that would have granted Catalonia more autonomy and recognised it as a nation within Spain.
Spain’s central government has repeatedly quashed moves for an independence referendum, maintaining it would be unconstitutional, and has made it clear it will use all legal methods to prevent the independence of Catalonia, which accounts for nearly a fifth of Spain’s economic output.
This hardline position stands in contrast to the UK Government’s response to the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) drive for independence in 2014, when it negotiated a legally-binding referendum with the devolved SNP government in Edinburgh which returned a 55% vote in favour of remaining part of the UK.
FC Barcelona said: “FC Barcelona expresses, in the most absolute terms, its total and complete disagreement with the announcement prohibiting the display of Estelada flags at the final of the Copa del Rey, to be played this Sunday night.
“The ban was announced on Wednesday by the Spanish government’s representative in the community of Madrid.
“FC Barcelona considers the decision to be an attack on the freedom of expression, the fundamental right of each and every individual to express their ideas and opinions freely and without censorship, a right which is recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“FC Barcelona has always defended, and will continue to defend, the freedom of expression of all its members and fans, who have always displayed a high level of civility and respect.
“FC Barcelona calls for the use of common sense and responsibility, and demands the government representative’s co-operation in creating the good atmosphere a match such as the Copa del Rey final deserves.
“FC Barcelona also implores the representative to respect the honour of the institutions involved in this final and to avoid causing any uncomfortable situations.”
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