Despite a scintillating football match, many of the international headlines were not about sport. Perhaps not even about politics, strictly speaking, but rather, focused on a colour: yellow. F.C.Barcelona football team won the Spanish football cup, known as the Copa del Rey - the King's Cup - for the 30th time in its history on Saturday, beating the Seville club by 5-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. But many international media chose to report on the operation carried out by Spanish police at the entrances to the ground, confiscating yellow t-shirts and other items of that colour from fans as they entered. Some stories also reported the controversy on the whistling by fans during Spain's national anthem before the match.
Spanish police on duty at stadium gates did not allow spectators to bring a variety of yellow objects into the ground, confiscating items such as T-shirts, plain yellow scarves, yellow whistles, as well as posters or banners related to the freedom of political prisoners. The unprecedented ban is related to the use of yellow ribbons as a mark of empathy with the imprisoned Catalan pro-independence leaders, and many international media chose to comment on it.
'L'Indépendant'
"Controversy is growing after the banning of yellow scarves and t-shirts worn by Barça supporters". This was the headline chosen by French newspaper L'Indépendant, which noted that the Spanish police forced supporters to throw their yellow T-shirts into rubbish bins.
Barça-Séville #CoupeduRoi La polémique enfle après l'interdiction d'écharpes et tee-shirts jaunes aux supporters du Barça https://t.co/4X07EPiO0K via @lindependant
— The Indépendant (@lindependant) 22 of April 2018
'L'express'
French digital media L'express says that the prohibition of yellow t-shirts before Spain's cup final has "provoked controversy". As well, it reports the declarations of a Spanish police spokesperson who said that "banners and t-shirts with meanings that could affect public order were confiscated" .
Coupe du Roi: l'interdiction de certains tee-shirts jaunes fait polémique https://t.co/DYHlZEKXaq
— berchel (@BerchelBl) 22 of April 2018
'TeleSur'
The news reached as far as Venezuela where the TeleSur network broadcast a video showing police searches of bags at entry gates, as well as the moment when the Spanish national anthem was played, receiving the response of heavy whistling from Barça fans, along with the waving of estelada flags and display of banners demanding the release of Catalan political prisoners - some of which did make it inside the ground. "Pro Catalan supporters targeted by Spanish police", is the headline that introduces the report.
Police in #Spain targeted pro-Catalonia soccer fans by commandeering their signs and 'esteladas' (yellow jerseys) worn in support of #Catalan political prisoners ahead of the Copa del Rey on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/ntrcFHeFse
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) 22 of April 2018
'24 heures'
This Swiss television channel states clearly that "The police pursued yellow t-shirts before the King's Cup final". As well, 24 heures explains that the Spanish police assured that the operation "was the same as in any other match at this level" and that "on Saturday they did not receive any special instructions".
«Absurde et ridicule» : des supporters du FC Barcelone obligés de se débarrasser de tee-shirts jaunes à l'entrée du stade où était disputée la Coupe du Roi. https://t.co/0pUzzb6gXc via @24heuresch
— Claude Duguay (@ClaudeDuguay2) 22 of April 2018
'L'Équipe'
For its part, the French sporting daily tells it readers that "the Catalans' symbolic colour was not welcome at the cup final".
Espagne : polémique après l'interdiction des tee-shirts jaunes des supporters de Barcelone lors de la finale de la Coupe du Roi https://t.co/z0SIJR8rQR pic.twitter.com/Wcixmxt1hL
— The ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) 22 of April 2018
'Tribune de Genève'
"Fans forced to take off t-shirts at the stadium". This is the headline in Swiss newspaper Tribune de Genève which, like other media, explains how cameras captured the moments when Barça fans had to throw away their yellow T-shirts.
The Swiss newspaper ‘Tribune of Genève’ also makes impact of how the Spanish police confiscated T-shirts and yellow scarves.
Europe in ‘shock’. https://t.co/dwesxpXnRc — CENSORED NEWS (@MNAnoticies) 22 of April 2018
Barça dominated the match against Seville and won 5-0, with goals from Suarez (2), Messi, Iniesta and Coutinho.