Basque radicals burn Spanish flag, beat fans and sabotage World Cup final broadcast in Bilbao and Vitoria

Graffiti and a march set the stage

Hours before the Spain-Argentina final, unknown individuals spray-painted "Puta España", "Puta selección" and "Combatir el españolismo" on a wall in Plaza Unzaga, Eibar. They also placed stickers with the Basque flag (ikurriña) on columns. In Bilbao, the pro-Basque-selection movement Zazpi Baietz held an afternoon march from the La Casilla pavilion to the Museum of Fine Arts, demanding official status for a Basque national team. The Partido Popular had installed a giant screen in Doña Casilda park after mayor Juan Mari Aburto (PNV) refused to put one up, arguing there was no "necesidad social". Bilbao was the only Basque capital without a municipal screen.

Bilbao: cables pulled, broadcast halted

About 40 minutes before kick-off, some march participants broke away and entered the park from behind the screen. They threw metal fences, caused damage, and hurled bottles, sending many of the hundreds of gathered fans running. The attackers pulled cables and stopped the broadcast. Ertzaintza officers quickly formed a cordon and the transmission was later restored. PP spokesperson Esther Martínez, who was at the scene, confronted the group and reproached them. Police identified 20 people aged between 15 and 46; one is under investigation for threatening attendees with a knife and throwing objects, and four have been proposed for sanctions under the Organic Law on Protection of Citizen Security.

Vitoria: pepper spray and beatings

In Vitoria-Gasteiz, around 30 individuals, reportedly linked to Alavés ultras, attacked two young men wearing Spain shirts on Calle Cuchillería in the old town half an hour before the match. The assailants sprayed them with pepper gas and punched and kicked them. When Ertzaintza arrived, the victims had bruised faces and were disoriented. No arrests were made for this assault. In a separate incident on Portal de Legutiano, three young people attacked another Spain-shirted man; police identified the suspects but the victim did not press charges. Later, at around 20:50, a 35-year-old man was arrested for assaulting an officer who was responding to a call for help during the disturbances. He faces a charge of attacking a law enforcement agent.

Eibar: flag burned during the match

In Plaza Unzaga, where thousands had gathered to watch the game on a screen set up by the city council, a group of about six hooded individuals appeared on a raised viewpoint 15 minutes into the first half. They lit red smoke flares and set fire to a Spanish flag, then dropped it to the ground and fled. They displayed a large banner reading "Gurea Euskal Selekzioa" (Our Basque selection) with crossed-out Spanish and French flags and the Zazpiak bat shield, and another that said "Esto no es España ni tampoco Francia". Earlier, a banner with "Inposiorik ez" (No impositions) and "gazte langileok espainolismoari aurre egin" (Young workers, confront Spanish nationalism) had been hung, along with a "boicot" banner showing a crossed-out Spanish coat of arms. The crowd booed and whistled, then returned to watching the match. Eibar is the hometown of Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal.

Police response and numbers

The Basque Department of Security reported that 20 people were identified in Bilbao and three in Álava, with ages ranging from 15 to 46 in Bilbao and 22 to 29 in Álava. One arrest was made in Vitoria for attacking a police officer. The Ertzaintza maintained a heavy presence throughout the evening, and no further incidents were reported after the flag burning.