Minister challenges athlete
Government spokesperson Elma Saiz questions Sabadell's goalkeeper on Sánchez's impact on sport
Anonymous
Spain's government spokesperson Elma Saiz used Tuesday's post-cabinet press conference to address Diego Fuoli directly — the goalkeeper of CE Sabadell who led a crowd in chanting
The incident happened Saturday, June 20, during Sabadell's promotion parade to LaLiga Hypermotion, Spain's second division. After a 4-0 win over Zamora on June 19, Fuoli prompted thousands of fans to shout an obscenity at the prime minister's name. The moment went viral instantly, according to COPE and Antena 3.
Saiz Fires Back With Numbers and a Direct Challenge
Standing at the Council of Ministers podium on June 23, Saiz aimed her response squarely at Fuoli. "I would ask him if he knows that Pedro Sánchez has multiplied sports scholarships by eight," she said, according to 20Minutos. She also pointed to strengthened pensions for high-level athletes and a €29.4 million government investment package tied to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Saiz added that those who run out of arguments resort to insults. She cited 22.5 million Social Security affiliates — a record high — and a €15.2 billion pension reserve fund as proof the government's economic management is working, according to Infobae.
Fuoli's Chant Tarnishes a Historic Promotion Parade
Sabadell had not played in Spain's second division for decades. The June 19 promotion was a major moment for the Catalan city. But at the Plaza de Sant Roc celebration, Fuoli turned a sporting triumph into a political flashpoint. He asked the crowd to respond to "Pedro Sánchez..." The reply was a loud obscenity, captured on video and shared widely, according to La Vanguardia.
By Sunday June 21, Fuoli had posted an apology online. He called it a "graceless joke" driven by "the euphoria of the moment," according to Onda Cero. CE Sabadell also issued a statement. The club rejected the behavior as "improper of an institutional act" and stressed its values of "plurality and inclusion," according to Antena 3.
Government Pressure Mounts as Legal Complaints Follow
The government did not let the apology close the matter. On Monday June 22, Carlos Prieto, the Government Delegate in Catalonia, demanded Fuoli apologize directly to Prime Minister Sánchez, according to OkDiario. That demand drew sharp criticism from the PP, who called it a "double standard" — the government, they argued, ignores similar insults aimed at opposition leaders, according to La Vanguardia.
The Federation of Neighborhood Associations of Sabadell filed a formal hate crime complaint against Fuoli, according to Futeros.com. Some local factions also proposed declaring him persona non grata. While a prison sentence is unlikely, the complaint could result in heavy fines or sports-related sanctions.
A Policy Dispute Hidden Inside a Football Celebration
The government is using the controversy to amplify its sports policy record. The 2022 Sport Law defined sport as a citizen right and expanded protections for high-level athletes. In March 2026, Saiz's ministry passed a Royal Decree letting professional athletes from the 1980s and 90s — many of whom lacked formal contracts — recover missing pension contributions, according to 65YMÁS.
The "multiplied by eight" scholarships claim will likely face scrutiny from opposition fact-checkers in coming weeks. But for now, the government has turned one goalkeeper's chant into a national conversation about athlete pensions and sports funding — far broader reach than a standard policy announcement would have earned, according to Noticias Trabajo.
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