Barcelona’s footballer Lamine Yamal is being investigated by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights over his 18th birthday party that allegedly was offering the entertainment made up of people with dwarfism. The inquiry is the result of a formal complaint from ADEE, a group of people with achondroplasia and skeletal dysplasias who claim to be their advocates.
On July 12, the day before Yamal’s 18th birthday, the celebration that was held in Olivella, near Barcelona, was attended by Barça teammates and some stars, including Bizarrap and Bad Gyal. Despite the guest’s restrictions on recording, a video showing several people with dwarfism entering the venue appeared.
The inclusion of dwarf entertainers in ADEE’s opinion has ″the effect of the increase of wrong ideas and the discrimination″, and they declare to go to the court for the case. At the same time, one performer, who remained anonymous, spoke in Catalan radio station, ″We work in according with the law and dignity. Only because it was Yamal’s party, this outrage exists.″
Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights confirmed that a request to the public prosecutor has been lodged for the initiation of investigations on the matter of the violation of disability rights and the law.
Yamal has not made any public comments about the issue yet. After spearheading Barcelona to a treble victory last season, the winger, who is considered a Ballon d’Or contender, has 25 goals in 106 appearances since making his debut at age 15.
