Barcelona explain why they removed a Spanish flag from Camp Nou during their match with Atletico Madrid

Barcelona received a visit from Atletico on Sunday, in an important meeting played on the Catalan field. Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game in the hosts’ 1-0 win, but controversy erupted off the pitch as a Spanish national flag bearing the Atletico club crest – which had been hung from the advertising boards in the second tier – was removed with force.

Barca reacted on Monday to the actions of supporters and security staff, who took action against a visiting supporter, and revealed why they had no choice but to intervene and move a fan, who was not escorted out of the arena.

In a statement from the Catalans, it is stated: “Yesterday, in the stadium, there was an episode in which some supporters of Atletico Madrid, in the second tier, covered the Spotify advertisement with a Spanish flag with the team’s coat of arms. Faced with this situation, a private security intervention group was activated and went to the spot to tell the fans what is the club’s internal regulation, which does not allow the hanging of flags or other elements that cover the stadium’s advertising and that, by therefore, it was necessary to withdraw.

“Before the private security service arrived at the scene, a local fan got down from his seat and removed this flag, leaving it next to the aforementioned Atletico Madrid fan. The intervention team spoke to the Atletico fan and explained regulation and asked him if he had had any problems with any local fans.This supporter, who had symptoms consistent with being under the influence of alcohol, stated that he had not but that some local fans in the area had previously scolded him.

The statement continued by saying: “The fan told the security agents that he preferred to watch the match from a different position, in a higher area of ​​the same stand, after which he got up to relocate with his companion. The private security accompanied him and in no case forcibly relocated him or did not expel him, facts completely contrary to a certain story that was established in some mass media and social networks, accompanied by images”.

Barcelona’s explanation continued: “La Liga’s integrity and security officer received accurate information about the event when he called FC Barcelona’s security officer to inquire about the situation in the second tier.

In addition, the Atletico Madrid supporter, accompanied by a woman – both Polish – voluntarily went to Gol Nord to leave his team shirt and the flag he was wearing and returned with another item of clothing to the original location, from where got to watch the match.

FC Barcelona reminds all fans that it is not allowed to cover the advertising spaces in the stadium with any sporting symbolism, even if it is the club’s own, so it will intervene when a situation contrary to the norm occurs.”

After the victory with Atletico, Barca remained 11 points ahead of their rivals from Real Madrid, at the top of the League standings, with eight games left to play.