Incident at Nuevo San Mamés
The second LaLiga match, between Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla, was played at Nuevo San Mamés. While the Athletic players-Unai Simón, Nico Williams and Aymeric Laporte-posed with the 2026 World Cup trophy, a group of separatist fans began booing.
Pifias and independence demands
The supporters, who call for the recognition of the Basque Country as an independent territory, disrupted the tribute with whistles and boos. The behavior was described as “lamentable” and reflected their hostility towards the Spanish national team. Luis de la Fuente, present in the stands, witnessed the scene.
Comparison with another tribute
OKDiario compared the situation with the tribute to Atlético de Madrid after their win over Málaga, where honors were paid to Álex Baena, Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill and Alejandro Grimaldo. The group of radicals from Athletic was described as “a note with their whistles during a brief act” and the tribute was deemed not up to the standard of Atlético’s tribute.
Repercussions and debate
The incident has sparked questions in the Spanish-speaking world about the relationship between football and regional politics. The controversy has spread to social media and news outlets, debating the legitimacy of the fans’ protest and the response from the federation.
Match details
The match ended with an Athletic Bilbao victory. The players celebrated their win while the crowd was divided between applause and protests. The event underscores the tension between Basque identity and Spanish national identity.
Conclusion
The episode at Nuevo San Mamés highlights the complexity of sporting and political rivalries in Spain. Athletic Bilbao, through its fans, displayed a stance that polarizes the fan base and the football community.
