Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has ordered an investigation into the conduct of police officers accused of assaulting Barcelona supporters before the match against Elche, according to Tribuna.
The government delegation in Valencia has also announced an internal National Police investigation into the officers’ conduct outside the Martínez Valero stadium. The delegation denied that any Catalan independence flags, known as esteladas, were confiscated during the incident. Photos shared on social media appeared to show several police officers hitting a Barcelona fan.
The incident took place before Barcelona’s La Liga match against Elche. The inquiries will seek to establish what happened and determine whether any officers acted improperly.
The episode has drawn criticism from Catalan political parties. Junts, ERC and CUP condemned the actions of National Police officers against Barcelona supporters before the match, adding a political dimension to the incident.