Samaras flies the flag
Barcelona have backed their supporters plans to fly the flag with Catalan flags at the final of the Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid on Sunday night.
The Catalan flag and Barcelona CF are hard to distinguish with the club not afraid to stand their ground and happy to provide a focal point for Catalan nationalism.
Any fixture involving Madrid is used as a means of demonstrating opposition to Spanish rule with Barca fans promising to turn a corner of Madrid red and yellow on Sunday night.
Responding to a flag ban announced by the Spanish government Barcelona issued a statement of support saying: “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 cooperation 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.”
