Court overrules decision to ban Catalan flags from Copa del Rey

Catalan separatists can display pro-independence flags at the Copa del Rey final on Sunday, when Barcelona will face Sevilla for the title, a Spanish court ruled has ruled.

The Madrid-based court accepted the appeal filed by Barcelona and a lawyer’s association to challenge the Spanish government’s ban of the flags announced earlier this week.

Government officials had argued the ban of the politically charged flags formed part of a group of security measures being implemented for the game at Vicente Calderón Stadium.

Barcelona said the ban of the “estelada” flag symbolising support for Catalonia’s breakaway from the rest of Spain was an attack on the freedom of expression.

Catalan nationalists were to distribute 10,000 Scottish flags ahead to encourage Barcelona fans to protest at the prohibition of a separatist flag.

In protest, the Catalan National Assembly had joined forces with other nationalist organisations to distribute 10,000 Saltires outside the Vicente Calderon.

They urged fans to wave the flags when the players went out on the pitch ahead of the match and at 17.14 minutes, in reference to Catatonia’s incorporation into the Spanish kingdom in 1714.

The Catalan National Assembly said: “Faced with the decision of the Spanish government’s delegate in Madrid, civil society organisations have chosen to fill the stands with Scottish flags.

"We chose this symbol because it allows us to denounce the difference between the treatment Catalonia receives from Spain and the treatment Scotland receives from the UK Government."

Catalonia is an industrialised region in north-east Spain, with a distinct language and culture which was suppressed during the 1939-1975 military dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.

Pro-independence flags have become a common sight at Barcelona’s home matches in recent years during an upswing of separatist sentiment in the northeastern region. The club has been fined by Uefa because of pro-secession chants and flags displayed by its fans during Champions League matches.

The initial ban by the government sparked a debate in Spain, and was heavily criticised by politicians from Catalonia and Barcelona, the region’s largest city. Catalonia’s pro-independence regional leader, Carles Puigdemont, originally responded to the government’s ban of the flags by saying he would not attend the final. He then changed his stance and said he will go after the court ruled to permit the flags.

Copa del Rey finals in recent years have been used by separatists among Barcelona's large fan base to display pro-independence flags. Spain's King Felipe VI was loudly jeered by both Catalans and Basques before last year's final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona, who won the La Liga title last weekend, will be trying to also defend their cup title. Sevilla won their third straight Europa League title on Wednesday.

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