CATALAN independence flags are to be handed out to thousands of football fans at the Barça – Celtic game tonight at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona.
The National reports that 30,000 esteladas are to be given out as Uefa is sued by the legal association Drets for “violating Catalans’ basic human rights”.
Catalan independence supporters are furious over a ban on the flags at the recent King’s Cup final between between Barça and Sevilla.
After a legal protest from Drets, a judicial review sided with Drets, suspending the flag’s prohibition and allowing Barça fans to display their symbols under the protection of the courts.
The dispute followed a €30,000 fine for the Barça club after supporters waved esteladas at the European finals in Berlin in 2015. Despite Barça’s attempts to have the fine overturned, and months of dialogue to try to find a solution, Uefa decided to fine the club €150,000 for allowing esteladas to be shown at Champions League games at Camp Nou throughout the 2015-2016 season – a sanction being challenged in the courts by Drets.
“The estelada is a completely legal symbol in Spain, which makes Uefa’s attitude even more difficult to understand,” said a spokesperson.
“In the face of this situation, the Catalan Assembly (ANC), Òmnium Cultural, Platform for Catalan Sports Teams and Drets will continue to coordinate a common front both in terms of mobilisation and through legal channels.”
Dozens of volunteers have been lined up to hand out the flags which have been supplied by the ANC, Òmnium Cultural, the Platform for Catalan Sports teams and Drets.
Fans are asked to wave the flags as the players first take to the field, and at 17 minutes, 14 seconds into both halves, to mark the end of the Seige of Barcelona in 1714.
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