Athletic Bilbao held a pre-match tribute to their Spanish World Cup winners and it went as badly as you’d expect.
Athletic opened their season at home to Sevilla and pre-match held a ceremony for Aymeric Laporte, Nico Williams and Unai Simon.
All three walked out on the pitch with the World Cup trophy, or at least a replica, and sections of San Mames booed them.
There were also cheers, but the look on the players’ faces suggested the didn’t expect such a reception.
There were also chants from standing fans of ‘If you’re Spanish don’t jump’.
The tensions come around the Basque country maintaining a separatist movement from the rest of Spain.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was also in attendance and was honoured, having previously coached Athletic and played for Sevilla.
Political tensions are nothing new with the Spain national team
Political tensions in Spain are often reflected in football, including in April during the Copa del Rey final.
Real Sociedad beat Atletico Madrid in the final, and pre match they booed the national anthem and displayed a giant Basque flag.
Similarly, after Spain won Euro 2024, messages were left in the Basque country for Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino.
One such banner near Oyarzabal’s mother’s house read ‘No to the acceptance of the Spanish team’ between the Basque flag and the Spanish flag.
Underneath in graffiti Oyarzabal and Merino’s names were painted, along with the word ‘traitors’ and a crossed-out swastika.
Speaking after the victory, Arnaldo Otegi, a leading member of the Basque parliament said: “I will never celebrate a victory for Spain because it does not represent me.
“It is not my national team, it is not my king and it is not my team. Some people think that we are anti-Spanish, but what I want to do is raise another point, and that is that Basque players do not have the option of playing with the Basque national team because the Spanish State denies that to us Basques.”
The match was Athletic’s first under Edin Terzic and started terribly with a red card for Yuri Berchiche.
Sevilla then raced into a 3-1 lead before Athletic pulled one back for a final score.
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