CE Europa condemns police assault on supporter carrying Catalan flag in Alcorcón

Incident in Alcorcón

Club Esportiu Europa denounced the actions of the Spanish National Police on Sunday following an altercation during a Primera RFEF fixture against AD Alcorcón in Madrid. According to the Barcelona-based club, police officers intervened against a visiting supporter who was displaying an estelada, the Catalan independence flag. Witness accounts from other supporters present at the venue indicated that the fan identified himself immediately and followed the instructions provided by the police officers.

Despite the fan complying with all directives, officers grabbed the supporter by the neck, threw him to the ground, and assaulted him. Witnesses reported that police personnel confiscated the flag, attempted to force the supporter to state that he was Spanish, and warned him of potential financial and administrative sanctions under Spain's Law on Sport. Existing sports legislation permits the prohibition of symbols only if they incite hatred or violence, which does not apply to the estelada.

Club response and fan walkout

Following the confrontation in the away section, CE Europa supporters who had travelled to Madrid walked out of the stadium in solidarity with the assaulted fan. The Primera RFEF fixture concluded in a 0-0 draw on the pitch. In the hours following the match, CE Europa released an official statement condemning the police operation and defending the legal rights of its fan base.

We consider inadmissible any action that violates fundamental rights, freedom of expression, and political and social freedoms. Europa defends the rights and freedoms of all supporters and expresses full solidarity with the young person and the entire Europa fan base, as well as our commitment to continue defending the rights of our people against any situation of violation or abuse.

Previous case in Elche

The event in Alcorcón follows a similar episode that occurred on 23 August 2026 during FC Barcelona's league fixture against Elche CF. In that incident, National Police officers removed an estelada from an underage Barcelona supporter before pulling him out of an entry queue alongside another follower. A physical altercation ensued between the supporters and security personnel, prompting officers to deploy batons.

Video footage from the Elche match showed several officers holding the supporter down on the ground, striking him, and escorting him away in handcuffs. The political party Junts described the intervention as abuse and mistreatment, requesting formal government explanations in parliament.

Government reaction and inquiry

Following formal demands from Catalan political groups in the Spanish Congress of Deputies, Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska addressed the Elche incident. The minister acknowledged that police personnel may have used disproportionate force during the confrontation.

The final conclusions belong to whoever must resolve the matter.

Grande-Marlaska stated that the Ministry of the Interior opened an official internal investigation to determine whether the officers breached protocol, urging political parties to wait for the completed findings before issuing final judgments.