Pilota champion Bixintxo Bilbao was sanctioned for waving the Basque flag
The news spread around the Basque pilota world like gunpowder: “Bixintxo Bilbao has been punished for bringing out the ikurrina (the Basque flag) on the podium”. He was the world champion pilota player in 2018 along with partner Peio Larralde.
The International Basque Pilota Federation (EPNF) considered pilota-player Bixintxo Bilbao showing the Basque flag at the world championship in Barcelona to be a "serious infraction".
27 year-old Bixintxo Bilbao is from Ziburu (Lapurdi, Basque Country) and reached the finals along with Peio Larralde.
The French Pilota Federation agreed with EPNF's decision. According to the federation, the regulations do not permit showing symbols other than those of the federation itself.
Bilbao has appealed against the sanction he has been given.
Many Basque Country pilota associations, pilota-players and friends declared their support for the player as soon as the news came out: "What I did was natural, I got onto the podium with the values I have and the way I am", Bilbao explained. The sanction imposed has angered many Basques.
If it is carried out, the Lapurdian will not be able to compete for one year.
The World Pilota Championship was held on 20th October, 2018 at Barcelona's Vall d'Hebron court. Bilbao won the gold medal in the final. The French players beat the Mexicans in two matches. Along with Bilbao, Mathieu Ospital, Peio Gixandut and Peio Larralde made up the French side.
The international federation has cancelled its sanction.
Federation president Xabier Cazaboun explained in a letter that it had been his "own personal decision". In the note published he thanked the president of the Spanish Pilota Federation –Julian Garcia Angulo– and the legal advisor to the United Basque Sports federation –Juan Carlos Soto–.
On the other hand, Cazaboun spoke out against the "verbal and written threats" he had received over previous days. "Nothing can justify using written violence, insults, slurs and lies when we're talking about pilota, and even less so when we move away from the values of sport and have political aims".
ARGIA is a news media funded in 1919 in Pamplona and published in Basque language. At first religious – called Zeruko Argia, "light of heaven” –, forbidden during the fascist dictatorship in Spain from 1936 on, in the 1950s and 1960s it had managed to come... [+]
In this series of articles, it should now have become clear that venture capital has created a system in which two types of companies become global giants: companies with bad business models but good marketing, or good business models and horrible impacts on society. This... [+]
One of the confusing aspects of the tech industry is that from a distance all the companies can seem the same. They use apps, have similar design styles, are based in hip urban centers, and strangely have millions of dollars without making any money. In part, this series is... [+]
After publishing Glovolizacion, a three-month undercover investigation into the working conditions of Glovo riders, I received almost entirely positive feedback from the general public and riders alike. Most riders felt ignored and exploited, and most readers were interested in... [+]
This is the third in a four-part investigative series examining Glovo’s business model and its relationship with the world it operates. Based on public statements by Glovo’s founders, this article will contextualize their world-view and the changes they hope to... [+]