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Barcelona soccer star Lamine Yamal could find himself under investigation after allegedly hiring individuals with dwarfism as birthday party entertainment.
The allegations come in the wake of Yamal’s 18th birthday blowout, which was held outside Barcelona on Saturday, July 12. Yamal officially turned 18 the following day.
Spain’s Ministry for Social Rights has requested an investigation over potential violations of disability laws, according to Spanish media.
The Ministry wants the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Spanish Ombudsman and the Office for Combating Hate Crimes to determine whether or not any laws were broken during the soirée.
Guests at Yamal’s party were not allowed to bring their phones inside, but video emerged of the event showing people with dwarfism arriving at the party’s location.
The festivities were attended by many of his Barcelona teammates and other social media influencers.
Spanish disability law prohibits “shows or recreational activities that use people with disabilities in a way that provokes ridicule or undermines their dignity.”
The Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias (ADEE) issued a statement on Sunday, July 13, condemning the alleged party behavior.
“It’s unacceptable that in the 21st century, people with dwarfism are still used for entertainment at private parties, particularly when public figures are involved,” ADEE President Carolina Puente said. “The dignity and rights of our community cannot be a source of amusement under any circumstance.”
Us Weekly has reached out to FC Barcelona and representatives of Yamal for comment.
One of the performers at Yamal’s party, speaking anonymously, defended his appearance at the event and said they were treated fairly.
“No one disrespected us, we were allowed to work in peace,” the person told Barcelona’s RAC1. “I don’t understand why it’s become such a big deal. We’re normal people who dedicate ourselves to what we love doing in an absolutely legal way.”
The individual said the ADEE has been seeking to “harm” people with dwarfism for “a couple of years.”
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“They want to prevent us from doing what we like, but they have not offered any work or training to those who are affected,” the performer said. “We work as entertainers. Why can’t we do what we do? We dance, we do magic, there are all types of shows. We were treated like anyone else [at the party], everyone had a good time.”
They concluded, “All this fuss has come about purely because it was Lamine Yamal’s party.”
Yamal returned to preseason training with Barcelona on Sunday, just hours after the birthday party concluded.
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