Mansion Sports - Barcelona’s young football sensation Lamine Yamal has once again become the center of public attention following his return to training after a lavish celebration for his 18th birthday. 

The event, which reportedly included individuals with dwarfism as part of the entertainment, has sparked intense backlash and raised concerns over potential legal violations in Spain.

The controversy stems from Spain’s disability protection laws, which explicitly prohibit any form of entertainment that degrades or exploits individuals with disabilities, especially if it involves mockery or disrespect.

ADEE Files Legal Complaint Citing Alleged Legal Breach

The Association for Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism (ADEE) has publicly condemned the celebration and announced its intention to pursue legal action against the Spain national team forward.

According to Spanish law, hiring individuals with disabilities for entertainment purposes that carry demeaning or humiliating connotations is considered a serious legal offense, subject to substantial penalties. 

The Spanish government has formally requested that prosecutors investigate the incident for potential violations of the disability protection act.

Public Statement Issued by One of the Performers Involved

Amid the growing controversy, one of the four individuals who participated in the birthday celebration has come forward to clarify their role in the event. Speaking anonymously to RAC1 radio, the individual cited contractual confidentiality as the reason for withholding their identity but firmly rejected allegations of mistreatment.

“No one disrespected us. We carried out our work calmly and professionally. I don't understand why this has become such a controversy. We are normal people doing a legal job,” the performer stated.

The individual also criticized ADEE President Carolina Puente, accusing her of undermining the dwarfism community by campaigning against a type of work that many in their community value and enjoy.

“For years, we’ve felt harmed by their stance. They want to ban a job we love, yet never offer alternatives or training. Why can’t we work as entertainers? Is it because of our physical condition? This isn’t exploitation—we understand our limits,” the performer asserted.

Performer Emphasizes No Exploitation Occurred

Further defending their participation, the entertainer clarified that they were only involved in the show for about an hour, after which they joined the party as regular guests. They emphasized that there was no element of humiliation or exploitation and insisted they would have walked away if they felt disrespected.

“We danced, served drinks, did magic tricks—there were many types of acts. After our performance, we enjoyed the party like everyone else. Everyone had fun. This only became an issue because it was Lamine Yamal’s birthday,” they explained.

Government Pushes for Continued Investigation as Yamal Faces Potential Fine

Despite the defense presented by one of the participants, Spain’s Ministry of Disability Affairs continues to urge prosecutors to determine whether any laws were breached during the event. Should legal violations be confirmed, Lamine Yamal could face fines ranging from €600,000 to €1,000,000.

To date, neither Lamine Yamal nor FC Barcelona has issued an official statement regarding the matter. 

The controversy remains highly visible in both media and public discourse, as scrutiny over the incident continues to mount.