“I don’t like it”: Barcelona’s Flick critiques Lamine Yamal over Palestinian flag

FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed his disapproval of his star player's decision to brandish a Palestinian flag during the club’s La Liga title celebrations.

The incident occurred during an open-top bus parade through the streets of the Catalan capital. Yamal, the 18-year-old sensation who has become the face of Barcelona’s domestic resurgence, was seen draped in the flag and waving it toward a crowd of tens of thousands following the team’s title-clinching victory over Real Madrid.

Flick’s Response: Normally, I Don’t Like This

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Flick was asked for his perspective on the young winger’s political expression.

"This is something I normally don’t like," Flick said.

"No, this is not my way."

Flick clarified that while he has spoken with Yamal about the gesture, he ultimately respects the player's autonomy.

"I spoke with him and I said to him if he wants this, it’s his decision. He’s 18 years old."

"We are playing football. We see what the people are expecting from us. When I’m driving through the people around the street, they were really... tears in the eyes. It’s unbelievable what I saw yesterday. They were really happy that we won this fantastic title."

The controversy comes at the end of a dominant season for Barcelona, who secured their 29th La Liga title under Flick’s guidance. Yamal has been instrumental to this success, despite the club grappling with a long list of injuries to key players like Gavi, Pedri, and Frenkie de Jong.

Yamal, who is of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean descent, has previously used his platform to speak out against social issues.

The Spanish superstar came under fire from Hebrew media and ‘Israeli’ politicians following his gesture, most notably right-wing national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

"Someone needs to explain to the soccer player Lamine Yamal that he is waving the flag of an entity that was never established, and behind which lie rivers of blood, terror, and the murder of Jews,” Ben-Gvir claimed on his Telegram account. 

“Anyone who chooses to identify with the flag of terror should not be surprised that Israelis loathe him,” he further claimed. 

Earlier this year, Flick supported Yamal after the teenager was subjected to Islamophobic chants during a match against Egypt on Spanish soil.