Barcelona City Council has condemned the exaltation of fascism by a team participating in a league at the Velódromo de Horta under the name 'Mingorrubio Balompié' and with 'Bayern de los Caídos' on their crest. Sports councillor, David Escudé, has announced a report to the Prosecutor's Office for Human Rights and Democratic Memory and is calling for the team's expulsion.
Barcelona City Council has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office specialised in Human Rights and Democratic Memory against a football team participating in a league in the city under the name 'Mingorrubio Balompié' and the motto 'Bayern de los Caídos' on their crest. Sports councillor, David Escudé, explained that the actions constitute a glorification of fascism and condemned the team's attitude.
The competition was held at the facilities of the Velódromo de Horta, a municipal space. For this reason, Escudé has sent a letter to the manager of the facilities requesting that all necessary actions be taken to prevent this team from participating in the competition.
The councillor emphasised that sport should be a space for coexistence, respect, inclusion, and tolerance, adding that it cannot become a place for the exhibition or normalisation of symbols associated with a dictatorship or elements that may be offensive to victims and their families.
"Sport must be a space for coexistence, respect, inclusion, and tolerance. It cannot become a place for the exhibition or normalisation of symbols associated with a dictatorship or elements that may be offensive to victims and their families," declared Escudé.
Escudé also expressed his hope that this situation will make others think twice or three times before making a joke about glorifying fascism.
The councillor reiterated that Barcelona cannot allow its facilities to be used to cover or normalise expressions that glorify or exhibit symbols associated with a dictatorship and concluded that they will go all the way to ensure this team does not participate in the competition.
The complaint to the Prosecutor's Office and the request to the manager of the Velódromo de Horta are the first steps towards excluding the team from the league. Barcelona City Council thus reaffirms its commitment to democratic memory and the protection of human rights in the sporting arena.
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