Barcelona Espanyol

Catalonia host Palestine in emotional friendly – ‘This is for all the Palestinians that can’t speak’

Image via 3Cat

Barcelona played host to a friendly between Catalonia and Palestine on Tuesday night, where the attendance at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys at Montjuic matched that of Spain’s clash against Turkiye just hours later in Seville. Around 30,000 fans attended the game, intended to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, who have been victims of a brutal genocide in the Gaza strip at the hands of the Israeli military.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was in attendance as per TV3, and paid witness to a number of tributes. The Palestine team presented Catalonia with a traditional keffiyeh, the headscarf customary for Palestinians. Meanwhile the game was opened by the ‘Cant del Ocells’ or Song of the Birds lament, which was played in memory of those who have suffered and perished.

Catalonia score victory after early goals

More than a game': Over 30,000 fans turn out for Catalonia vs Palestine friendly
Image via Nico Tomas

The Catalan side took the lead early, as Ilie Sanchez got on the end of a free-kick from Sergi Gomez after just five minutes.

Catalonia would double their lead in the 26th minute, with Girona winger Joel Roca putting a cross in and Ammed Mahajna putting the ball in the back of his own net.

Palestine did grab one back just moments later though, with Zeidan firing home from almost on the goal-line; a goal that was celebrated more than the Catalan goals. After a goal-less second half, the Palestine team thanked the fans with a lap of honour.

‘This is for all the Palestinians that can’t speak’ – Yaser Hamed

Meanwhile Palestine player Yaser Hamed, who grew up in Bilbao, explained what it meant to the Palestinian people to Onda Cero.

“I’ve been representing the Palestinian national football team for seven years now, and I do it with immense pride. The solidarity shown in the Basque Country and Catalonia has been incredible. We’ve experienced a historic moment, something we Palestinian players had never experienced before. In the end, I believe dreams do come true.”

On Saturday, similarly emotional scenes played out at San Mames in Bilbao, as the Palestinian team faced the Basque national team. Hamed asserted that the Palestinian team were representing all of the Palestinians around the world without a voice.

“These have been very tragic years; I’ve lost family members. I hope that after these matches we’ve sent a powerful message to the world and that it all ends once and for all. The least people deserve is to live in peace and tranquility.”

“Some players have families in Gaza and other cities. We have a responsibility to defend Palestine in the best way possible and to use football – because it’s ultimately seen worldwide – to represent those millions of Palestinians who would like to be able to speak out but can’t.”

Posted by

Tags Catalonia Palestine Spain La Roja

2 Comments

  1. I wholeheartedly commend the Catalonian national team and the Basque national team for playing host to the Palestinian national team in two friendly encounters in Catalonia and the Basque region respectively.
    It’s all about SOLIDARITY with the Palestinian people world wide, particularly those who have had to live the daily experiences of relentless horror of starvation and all forms of genocidal attacks or operations perpetuated sadistically against them by the Jewish State of Israel led by the war-monger and blood-thirsty Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Indeed, the two friendly encounters constitute a symbolic gesture of the recognition of the Palestinian people’s undaunted cause and peaceful agitation for freedom and statehood as opposed to slavery, economic blockade, ethnic cleansing, gross abuse of human rights, Apartheid-like policies and genocide being perpetuated on the Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank by the Israeli military goaded on by the Jewish State of Israel led by the sadist and blood-thirsty Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu!

    I passionately salute the good and beautiful people of both Catalonia and the Basque country for the solidarity and kind gesture shown to the Palestinian people who lack the voice to make their plight and feelings known to the world!

    Hearty 💗 kudos!!!

  2. “. . . the Palestinian people, who have been victims of a brutal genocide in the Gaza strip at the hands of the Israeli military.”

    I am an American have living lived “en un pequeno pueblo de Andalucia” for the past two years and just recently returned from a road trip (with my wife) to Bilbao, San Sebastian and Guernica.

    I love Spain and the Spanish people (I married one 51 years ago) and though many in the Basque country and Catalonia prefer to exit the Kingdom of Spain, so be it. What has amazed me is the success the media has had in brain-washing many Spanish people (including our friends in Andalucia) with regards to the Israeli/Gaza relationship. No mention of the Muslim Nazis (Hamas/Hezbollah/Iran) who murdered thousands of innocent civilians . . . men women and children, without warning.

    I cannot take these otherwise intelligent Spanish people seriously, because the Spanish media is so adept at spreading propaganda and many Spanish people (especially in the Basque and Catalonia) and the RFEF fall for it hook, line and sinker. No surprise though, because Spain has been becoming more and more Socialist over the decades. That may change however in the next election. I think for the better, but I don’t get involved in Spanish politics, but I do recognized anti-Semitic propaganda.

Comments are closed

La Liga - Club News