Lamine Yamal birthday party row: Why Spain is probing Barcelona superstar and what punishment will he get?

The Spanish Ministry of Social Rights has asked the Prosecutor's Office and the Office for Combating Hate Crimes to investigate whether the country's disability law, which prohibits shows that mock or denigrate people with disabilities, was violated at Barcelona star Lamine Yamal's controversial birthday party. The development comes after it was confirmed that people with dwarfism were paid to attend the private event which was attended by around 200 people, including his teammates.

 

In Spain, shows or recreational activities that use people with disabilities or those who face certain circumstances to provoke mockery, ridicule, or derision from the public in a manner contrary to the respect due to human dignity are prohibited under the disability law.

 

Jesus Martin, the Director General of Disability, has sought clarification on whether people with dwarfism were denigrated at the Barcelona winger's 18th birthday party.

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Earlier, the Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism (ADEE), an organisation of people with physical disabilities in Spain, had called for legal action against Lamine Yamal for hiring people with this disability for his party.

 

These ordinary people were hired to attend the birthday party solely for entertainment and promotional activities. ADEE maintains that such activities are intolerable because they perpetuate stereotypes, fuel discrimination, and undermine the image and rights of people with physical disabilities, Marca said in a report.

 

Jesus Martin told the press that he believes that what happened at the FC Barcelona player's event violates "not only current legislation, but also the fundamental ethical values of a society that seeks to be egalitarian and respectful."

 

Spanish media reports claimed that while such activities are prohibited, there is no established penalty for violating the law. However, in a reform of the law that the Council of Ministers intends to approve very soon, the public humiliation of a person due to their disability is considered a serious offence, which could attract hefty fines between €600,000 and €1 million, Marca said in a report.

 

For affluent footballers, the penalty sum is no big deal, but the authorities believe that it is important to make an example out of Yamal, as more such parties shouldn't be hosted in the country. Social media influencers and athletes should not consider hosting a similar dehumanising event in the future, inspired by the footballer, and strict action is the best way to ensure that, they believe.

Yamal, prophesied to be the next big thing in world football, reportedly hosted the controversial party on Sunday at a rented property in Olivella, a small town 50 kilometres north west of Barcelona.

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