Spain calls for Israel, Russia to be banned from international sports competitions

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday said Israel and Russia should be banned from international sports competitions until “barbaric acts” end, referring to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Sanchez said he condemned the violent protests by pro-Palestinian on Sunday in Madrid which disrupted the La Vuelta cycling race and ultimately led to the cancellation of the final leg and the podium ceremony.

The prime minister – who has been fiercely criticised by his opponents for praising the protesters hours before the race had to be abandoned – said he hoped Sunday’s events in Madrid would lead others to reconsider whether Israel should be included in major sporting events.

Sánchez has repeatedly questioned the international community’s “double standards” over Ukraine and Gaza and said in May that Israel should be excluded from the Eurovision song contest – a call echoed in recent days by Spain’s culture minister.

The prime minister said that while his government had and would always reject violence, he had “a deep admiration and respect” for both the cyclists in the Vuelta and for “a Spanish society that mobilises against injustice and defends its ideas in a peaceful manner”.

Although Israel-Premier Tech is a private team and not a state one, its presence in the bike race had led to a series of demonstrations. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had praised the team for “not giving in to hate and intimidation”, adding that it had made Israel proud.

The protests culminated with 100,000 demonstrators gathering for Sunday’s rally. According to the Spanish government, 22 police officers were injured in clashes with protesters and two people were arrested.

- Agencies