The Spanish government placed a ban on the flags earlier this week and the decision was challenged in a Madrid court in a complaint filed by Barcelona and a lawyer’s association.
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Important titles secured, Barcelona and Sevilla aim to sweeten already successful seasons in the Copa del Rey final on Sunday.
Catalan nationalists were to distribute 10,000 Scottish flags ahead to encourage Barcelona fans to protest at the prohibition of a separatist flag.
Per Reuters (h/t Eurosport), acting Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said of the ban: “The government’s representative in Madrid has taken this decision for operational and security reasons, not political reasons”.
Barcelona said the ban of the “estelada” flag symbolising support for Catalonia’s breakaway from the rest of Spain was an attack on the freedom of expression.
The club were fined 30,000 euros (£22,000) in 2015, as a result of fans displaying pro-Catalan independence flags during their Champions League final with Juventus, which breached UEFA’s disciplinary regulations.
The Catalan president, Carles Puidgemont, later confirmed he will be attending the match in Madrid on Sunday.
The prosperous northeastern region of Catalonia has seen rising separatist sentiment following a deep recession and the regional government seeks a split from Spain.
Spain’s central government has repeatedly quashed moves for an independence referendum, maintaining it would be unconstitutional, and has made it clear it will use all legal methods to prevent the independence of Catalonia, which accounts for almost a fifth of Spain’s economic output. Scotland was allowed a referendum in 2014 and voted to stay in the United Kingdom but the Spanish government will not allow Catalonia a similar choice.
FC Barcelona “expressed its satisfaction with the judicial decision to allow the display of Estelada flags at the Copa del Rey final”. Spain’s King Felipe VI was loudly jeered by both Catalans and Basques before last year’s final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona is defending its domestic cup trophy at Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid, a week after winning its second straight Spanish league title.
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Sevilla players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Europa League final soccer match between Liverpool and Sevilla in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 18, 2016.
