Barcelona and Spain winger, Lamine Yamal, has come under fire following his 18th birthday celebration, with a prominent advocacy group for people with dwarfism in Spain announcing plans for legal action against the teenager.
Lamine Yamal, who turned 18 on July 13, reportedly hired individuals with dwarfism to entertain guests during his birthday bash, a move that has sparked outrage among disability rights advocates.
According to AS, the Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias in Spain issued a statement strongly criticising the act, calling it a demeaning use of people with dwarfism for entertainment.
“The Association condemns the involvement of people with dwarfism for entertainment purposes at Yamal’s celebration and will take legal and public action,” the group said in an official release.
The organisation, which has long campaigned against discriminatory portrayals and exploitation of individuals with skeletal dysplasias, described Yamal’s choice as “regressive” and “out of touch with modern standards of inclusion and dignity.”
The backlash comes at a time when Yamal’s football career is reaching new heights. The young winger played a key role in Barcelona’s domestic success last season, helping Hansi Flick’s side secure both the LaLiga title and the Copa del Rey.
The prodigy is also tipped to inherit Lionel Messi’s iconic No.10 shirt in the upcoming campaign, a symbolic move that reflects his growing stature in Spanish football.
But the legal threat casts a shadow over Yamal’s public image, with critics urging the player to acknowledge the controversy and publicly apologise.
The association’s legal team has yet to file a formal lawsuit but insists that both legal and public advocacy routes will be pursued to ensure the incident sets no precedent.
At the time of writing, neither Yamal nor his representatives have commented publicly on the matter as of press time.
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