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Barcelona appeals ban on Estelada flags at Copa del Rey final

PAU BARRENA / AFP / Getty

Barcelona won't go quietly into the night.

After Spain's government banned Estelada flags from the Copa del Rey final, Barcelona filed an administrative appeal to the Madrid Courts on Thursday over the decision, calling it a "violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression."

The Estelada flag represents Catalan independence and is a common sight at the Camp Nou when Barcelona is playing. Among the Blaugrana's current and former players who have voiced support for Catalonia's self-governance are Pep Guardiola, Bojan Krkic, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, the late Johan Cruyff, and Eric Abidal.

From Barcelona's official website:

FC Barcelona has today filed an administrative appeal to the Madrid Courts for the protection of fundamental rights and a request for a preliminary injunction to suspend the decision that was announced by the delegate of the Community of Madrid. This resolution prohibits the display of Estelada flags at the Copa del Rey final which will take place on Sunday 22 May at the Vicente Calderon stadium, between FC Barcelona and Sevilla.

The legal basis of the appeal presented today by the Club is the violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression and the lack of grounds for the measure because it presupposes a desire to be offensive with the use of the Estelada flags.

With actions such as these, FC Barcelona defends, and will continue to defend, freedom of expression of its members and supporters.

Last October, UEFA fined Barcelona €30,000 after supporters displayed Estelada flags during the club's Champions League fixture at home to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

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