The FC Barcelona soccer team on Thursday distanced itself from the decision by its star Lamine Yamal to wave a Palestinian flag during an open-top bus parade on Monday, and said the moment would not be included in repeat broadcasts of the event.

The 18-year-old winger’s act — welcomed by many in Spain, and defended by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez — drew backlash from the team’s large fan base in Israel, and — also on Thursday — from Defense Minister Israel Katz, who called the player’s act “hateful.”

Barcelona sent its response to the team’s Israeli fan club Barca Mania, which then posted it in Hebrew on Facebook.

It began: “FC Barcelona is proud to represent a global community of fans from many different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities, including the Israeli community.”

“In this context, it is important to us to clarify that the moment in question, during the La Liga championship celebrations, was not intended to convey any political message on behalf of FC Barcelona. Beyond that, we renounce any message that is directed against any community, state or nation,” it said.

“We would like to emphasize that the moment in question was not planned in advance by any official connected to FC Barcelona, but rather occurred spontaneously, during celebrations with hundreds of thousands of fans on the street, representing a wide diversity of cultures and symbols,” the club added.

“FC Barcelona remains committed to the values of respect, inclusion, diversity and dialogue. We completely understand that the images and videos have caused discomfort or disappointment among the Israeli fan community, and we completely respect your feelings and sensitivity that issues of this sort can arouse,” it said.

“On behalf of FC Barcelona, we sincerely appreciate the Israeli fan community and your continued support for the club over the........

© The Times of Israel