Fútbol Club Barcelona once again encountered a hostile environment in Vallecas. Beyond the refereeing problems and the previous statements by Martín Presa, the cameras of the program “El día después” revealed images that show an embarrassing episode: Frenkie de Jong and Alejandro Balde were heckled and intimidated by an ultra fan of Rayo Vallecano when they were about to give away shirts to the fans.

"Forbidden” to give away shirts: a nice gesture turned into an embarrassing moment

De Jong and Balde, later accompanied by Marc Casadó, were waiting at the exit of the tunnel of changing rooms with the intention of giving away shirts, probably to some young fan. However, what should have been an endearing detail turned into a deplorable scene due to the attitude of an ultra from the local team.

“This is Vallecas, dogs. You won't win here even by stealing!”, were the first insults that the Barça players received.

Immediately afterwards, the fan went further and launched a warning that sounded more like a threat than a simple mockery: “Nothing is given away here, huh? Here in the background of Vallecas, shirts are not given away. Outside, in the changing rooms, whatever you want, not here. If you give it to him, we'll take it away”.

De Jong and Balde, forced to leave

Given the tension of the moment, Frenkie de Jong was stunned and was quick to gesture to his teammates to withdraw. The Dutch midfielder, visibly uncomfortable, preferred to turn around and avoid any major incident. Balde and Casadó followed the same path, resigned to leaving the gesture halfway.

The scene highlights the growing difficulty that the Barça players are experiencing in certain stadiums, where a radical sector of the fans does not hesitate to cross the lines of respect and completely lose sportsmanship.

More incidents against Lamine Yamal

The episode was not the only one that tainted Barça's visit to Vallecas with controversy. The cameras also captured how Lamine Yamal, the great star of Hansi Flick's team, was the victim of objects and liquids being thrown from the stands. An inadmissible aggression that, once again, was portrayed in television broadcasts.

The throwing of objects at Lamine Yamal. #ElDíaDespués

The young attacker, who at just 18 years old already accumulates records in his career at Barça, had to endure a scenario unworthy of the elite of football. The Catalan club has not issued any statement in this regard, but the image of Yamal dodging objects should serve as a wake-up call to the LaLiga authorities.

A problem that LaLiga cannot ignore

The incidents in Vallecas reopen the debate on the safety and treatment that visiting players receive in some LaLiga stadiums. That footballers like De Jong, Balde or Yamal are victims of insults, threats and physical aggressions is unacceptable in a competition that boasts of being a world reference.

If LaLiga harshly sanctions clubs for administrative or economic issues and fans in their fight against piracy, it should not look the other way when such serious events occur that directly threaten the integrity of the players and the spirit of the sport.

Scenes like those experienced in Vallecas not only damage the image of Rayo, but also the credibility of a competition that aspires to lead global football. The question is clear: Will LaLiga act with the same firmness as in other areas? Unfortunately, the answer is no.

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