Israeli newspapers attack Barcelona player, calling him provocative

Hebrew media  attacked Barcelona player Lamine Yamal after he raised the Palestinian flag during the Catalan club's celebrations of the Spanish league title, following a 2-0 victory over traditional rivals Real Madrid.

Yamal, 18,  appeared during the celebration procession waving the Palestinian flag among the cheers of the crowd, and the video spread very quickly, amid a wide global interaction, between supporters who see the move as humanitarian support, and opponents who see it as politicizing the sport.

Widespread anger in Israeli circles

Israeli media expressed clear displeasure with Yamal's behavior, and considered his raising of the Palestinian flag during the celebration an unacceptable political position, to express his  opposition to Israel and his support for Palestine in front of the world.

Commentators and former players also attacked the young player, considering that what he did went beyond the boundaries of sports, as social media platforms in Israel witnessed a wave of widespread anger, amid calls for sanctions against the player or the intervention of the Spanish Federation.

An Israeli journalist posted on the "X" platform: "I am a Barcelona fan and I love Lamin, but I sincerely hope that he gets injured and does not play in the World Cup."

Barcelona's position on the Spanish player

  The club's coach, Hansi Flick, said he did not like to be involved in politics in football in general, but confirmed that he had spoken to the player and considered it a personal decision for Yamal as an adult.

While no official comment has been issued condemning or punishing the player, the club has continued to deal with the matter as part of the noisy mass celebrations that took place on the streets of the city.

 Yamal's action was welcomed in the Arab world, and was considered a brave stance from a young player at a global club. 

In Europe, opinions were divided between those who believe that the player has exercised freedom of expression and those who believe that the big clubs should stay away from political symbols.

Strained Spanish-Israeli relations

Relations between Spain and Israel have been witnessing unprecedented tension since November 2023, after the Spanish government headed by Pedro Sánchez adopted a stance against Israeli military operations in Gaza, describing them as "unacceptable" and demanding an  immediate ceasefire.

Israel responded by accusing Madrid of "encouraging terrorism" and summoning the Spanish ambassador to protest, before later announcing that the Spanish consulate in occupied Jerusalem  had been banned  from providing services to the Palestinians.

Observers say Spain's current stance is one of Europe's most critical of Israel, while Tel Aviv continues to put diplomatic pressure on Madrid to curb its political rhetoric toward the war.