The Spanish soccer federation president has been criticised by government ministers for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the celebrations of their women's World Cup victory.

Hermoso was heard telling teammates afterward in the locker room she "didn't like it" in a video posted on Instagram and YouTube by El Mundo newspaper and other media outlets.

The kiss happened as Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish soccer federation, distributed gold medals among the team following their 1-0 victory over England on Sunday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/injury-concern-mounts-for-manchester-city-as-star-defender-john-stones-ruled-out-until-september-confirms-pep-627564">Injury concern mounts for Manchester City as star defender John Stones ruled out until September, confirms Pep</a>

Hermoso later played down the incident in a statement sent to Spanish news agency EFE by the federation.

"It was mutual gesture that was totally spontaneous prompted by the huge joy of winning a world cup," the statement said. "The 'presi' and I have a great relationship, his behaviour with all of us has always been 10 (out of 10) and this was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude."

Asked again about the incident on Spain's COPE Radio station, she said: "I wish they created (controversy) involving someone else, I’m a world champion and that’s what matters."

Rubiales meanwhile denounced those raising questions as "idiots".

"The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a moment of affection that means nothing more, you can't listen to idiocy. We are the champions, that's it," he said according to Radio Marca.

However, ministers and parts of the media were angry at the gesture.

Acting Culture and Sports Minister Miquel Iceta said on Monday on RNE radio the kiss was unacceptable and asked Rubiales to give an explanation and apologise.

A non-consensual kiss is "a kind of sex violence we suffer all women daily, which was until now invisible, and which we cannot normalise", acting Gender Equality Minister Irene Montero said on the X social network, formerly known as Twitter.

Acting Social Rights Minister Ione Belarra, who belongs to Montero's party, asked "if they do that with all of Spain watching, what might they do privately?"

A column in Spain's top-selling El Pais newspaper on Monday morning was titled: "Jenni didn't like the kiss and we didn't either" - describing it as "an intrusion, an invasion of privacy, an aggression".

Gender issues are a powerful topic in Spain. The socialist-led government has presided over a raft of legal reforms around gender change, abortion and sex work, but a loophole in its law around sexual consent let rapists out of jail, resulting in a significant electoral loss by Montero's far-left Podemos party, in the government coalition, in July's election.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Spanish soccer federation president has been criticised by government ministers for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the celebrations of their women's World Cup victory.

The Spanish soccer federation president has been criticised by government ministers for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the celebrations of their women's World Cup victory. Hermoso was heard telling teammates afterward in the locker room she "didn't like it" in a video posted on Instagram and YouTube by El Mundo newspaper and other media outlets. The kiss happened as Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish soccer federation, distributed gold medals among the team following their 1-0 victory over England on Sunday. ALSO READ: Injury concern mounts for Manchester City as star defender John Stones ruled out until September, confirms Pep Hermoso later played down the incident in a statement sent to Spanish news agency EFE by the federation. "It was mutual gesture that was totally spontaneous prompted by the huge joy of winning a world cup," the statement said. "The 'presi' and I have a great relationship, his behaviour with all of us has always been 10 (out of 10) and this was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude." Asked again about the incident on Spain's COPE Radio station, she said: "I wish they created (controversy) involving someone else, I’m a world champion and that’s what matters." Rubiales meanwhile denounced those raising questions as "idiots". "The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a moment of affection that means nothing more, you can't listen to idiocy. We are the champions, that's it," he said according to Radio Marca. However, ministers and parts of the media were angry at the gesture. Acting Culture and Sports Minister Miquel Iceta said on Monday on RNE radio the kiss was unacceptable and asked Rubiales to give an explanation and apologise. A non-consensual kiss is "a kind of sex violence we suffer all women daily, which was until now invisible, and which we cannot normalise", acting Gender Equality Minister Irene Montero said on the X social network, formerly known as Twitter. Acting Social Rights Minister Ione Belarra, who belongs to Montero's party, asked "if they do that with all of Spain watching, what might they do privately?" A column in Spain's top-selling El Pais newspaper on Monday morning was titled: "Jenni didn't like the kiss and we didn't either" - describing it as "an intrusion, an invasion of privacy, an aggression". Gender issues are a powerful topic in Spain. The socialist-led government has presided over a raft of legal reforms around gender change, abortion and sex work, but a loophole in its law around sexual consent let rapists out of jail, resulting in a significant electoral loss by Montero's far-left Podemos party, in the government coalition, in July's election. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Spanish govt criticises Luis Rubiales for kissing Jenni Hermoso on lips during Women's World Cup celebration

The Spanish government’s recent summer campaign inviting&nbsp;women of all shapes and sizes to hit the beach has flopped&nbsp;a second time after one of the models in the advertisement claimed that her prosthetic limb had been edited out. The British model was left infuriated after knowing that her image was used by Spain’s government without her permission.

She also claimed that her prosthetic leg was edited out.

Spain’s Equality ministry used photographs of five women as a part of its body positivity campaign. The 32-year-old Sian Green-Lord said she found out about the campaign through her friends. She is the second woman in the ad who claims that her images were used without her consent.

Londoner Nyome Nicholas-Williams said an image taken from her Instagram account was used by the Spanish Institute for Women in their poster, the BBC reported. The image features five women relaxing on the beach, with the slogan “Summer Is Ours Too” on it. At the lower left of the picture, Ms Green-Lord can be seen.

The British influencer, speaking about the matter in an Instagram Story, said that she was left “shaking with rage” when she discovered that her prosthetic leg had been edited out of her images. She also mentioned that&nbsp;the bikini she was wearing was also changed.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-booker-winner-geetanjali-shrees-event-cancelled-in-agra-after-complaint-against-her-502092">Booker-winner Geetanjali Shree's event cancelled in Agra after complaint against her</a>

Sharing a video message, she said, “I don’t know how to even explain the amount of anger that I’m feeling right now. There’s one thing using my image without my permission. But there’s another thing editing my body.”

The BBC quoted Ms Green-Lord as saying, “I literally don’t even know what to say but it’s beyond wrong.” The model’s leg was amputated after being struck by a taxi in 2013 while she was holidaying in New York.

Arte Mapache, who created the campaign, on Thursday issued an apology for incorporating the photos without formal permission from the models. “Given the (justified) controversy over the image rights in the illustration, I have decided that the best way to make amends for the damage that may have resulted from my actions is to share out the money I received for the work and give equal parts to the people in the poster,” she said.

The Spanish government has not addressed the controversy yet. However, the Women’s Institute that used her image said in a statement earlier this week: “The campaign is intended as a response to fatphobia, hatred and the questioning of non-normative bodies – particularly those of women, something that’s most prevalent in the summertime.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-christian-dior-sparks-criticism-for-%E2%80%98culturally-appropriating%E2%80%99-centuries-old-traditional-chinese-skirt-501947">Christian Dior sparks criticism for ‘culturally appropriating’ centuries-old traditional Chinese skirt</a>

The Spanish government’s recent summer campaign inviting women of all shapes and sizes to hit the beach has flopped a second time after one of the models in the advertisement claimed that her prosthetic limb had been edited out.

The Spanish government’s recent summer campaign inviting women of all shapes and sizes to hit the beach has flopped a second time after one of the models in the advertisement claimed that her prosthetic limb had been edited out. The British model was left infuriated after knowing that her image was used by Spain’s government without her permission. She also claimed that her prosthetic leg was edited out. Spain’s Equality ministry used photographs of five women as a part of its body positivity campaign. The 32-year-old Sian Green-Lord said she found out about the campaign through her friends. She is the second woman in the ad who claims that her images were used without her consent. Londoner Nyome Nicholas-Williams said an image taken from her Instagram account was used by the Spanish Institute for Women in their poster, the BBC reported. The image features five women relaxing on the beach, with the slogan “Summer Is Ours Too” on it. At the lower left of the picture, Ms Green-Lord can be seen. The British influencer, speaking about the matter in an Instagram Story, said that she was left “shaking with rage” when she discovered that her prosthetic leg had been edited out of her images. She also mentioned that the bikini she was wearing was also changed. Also Read: Booker-winner Geetanjali Shree's event cancelled in Agra after complaint against her Sharing a video message, she said, “I don’t know how to even explain the amount of anger that I’m feeling right now. There’s one thing using my image without my permission. But there’s another thing editing my body.” The BBC quoted Ms Green-Lord as saying, “I literally don’t even know what to say but it’s beyond wrong.” The model’s leg was amputated after being struck by a taxi in 2013 while she was holidaying in New York. Arte Mapache, who created the campaign, on Thursday issued an apology for incorporating the photos without formal permission from the models. “Given the (justified) controversy over the image rights in the illustration, I have decided that the best way to make amends for the damage that may have resulted from my actions is to share out the money I received for the work and give equal parts to the people in the poster,” she said. The Spanish government has not addressed the controversy yet. However, the Women’s Institute that used her image said in a statement earlier this week: “The campaign is intended as a response to fatphobia, hatred and the questioning of non-normative bodies – particularly those of women, something that’s most prevalent in the summertime.” Also Read: Christian Dior sparks criticism for ‘culturally appropriating’ centuries-old traditional Chinese skirt

British model furious after Spain’s body-positivity ad campaign used her image without consent

The Spanish government intends to transform the Franco-era monument known as "The Valley of the Fallen" into a cemetery to hold the remains of people killed on both sides of the Spanish Civil War, Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo said on Tuesday (September 15).

Spain to transform 'Valley of the Fallen' Franco monument into civilian cemetery

Police in Spain said Wednesday they arrested 51 people across Catalonia overnight after violent protests over the jailing of nine separatist leaders for their role in a failed 2017 independence bid.

Pro-independence groups staged sit-ins outside Spanish government offices in a number of Catalan cities late Tuesday, with around 40,000 people taking part in Barcelona and 9,000 in the separatist stronghold of Girona, according to police.&nbsp;

The protests descended into clashes with police in many cities.

In Barcelona, police charged hundreds of masked demonstrators who threw projectiles at officers and set garbage bins and cardboard boxes on fire.

When one man tried to put out the flames of a burning rubbish container with a fire extinguisher, masked protesters pushed him away, images broadcast on Spanish television showed.

National and regional police arrested 29 people in the province of Barcelona, 14 in Tarragona province and eight in Lleida, according to Spain's interior ministry.

The ministry said 72 police officers were injured in the clashes, including several who suffered broken bones.

A high-speed train between Barcelona and Figueres, a town not far from the French border, was blocked due to sabotage, the central government said in a statement.

Several streets in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, were cut off because crews were cleaning up debris from 157 fires set overnight, it added.

The protests erupted after the Supreme Court on Monday issued heavy prison sentences of between nine and 13 years to Catalan separatist leaders convicted of sedition over the 2017 referendum and short-lived declaration of independence.

Police in Spain said Wednesday they arrested 51 people across Catalonia overnight after violent protests over the jailing of nine separatist leaders for their role in a failed 2017 independence bid.

Police in Spain said Wednesday they arrested 51 people across Catalonia overnight after violent protests over the jailing of nine separatist leaders for their role in a failed 2017 independence bid. Pro-independence groups staged sit-ins outside Spanish government offices in a number of Catalan cities late Tuesday, with around 40,000 people taking part in Barcelona and 9,000 in the separatist stronghold of Girona, according to police. The protests descended into clashes with police in many cities. In Barcelona, police charged hundreds of masked demonstrators who threw projectiles at officers and set garbage bins and cardboard boxes on fire. When one man tried to put out the flames of a burning rubbish container with a fire extinguisher, masked protesters pushed him away, images broadcast on Spanish television showed. National and regional police arrested 29 people in the province of Barcelona, 14 in Tarragona province and eight in Lleida, according to Spain's interior ministry. The ministry said 72 police officers were injured in the clashes, including several who suffered broken bones. A high-speed train between Barcelona and Figueres, a town not far from the French border, was blocked due to sabotage, the central government said in a statement. Several streets in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, were cut off because crews were cleaning up debris from 157 fires set overnight, it added. The protests erupted after the Supreme Court on Monday issued heavy prison sentences of between nine and 13 years to Catalan separatist leaders convicted of sedition over the 2017 referendum and short-lived declaration of independence.

Several arrested during Catalan protests over jailing of separatist leaders

Spain is facing its deepest constitutional crisis since the restoration of democracy in 1977, and it&rsquo;s only getting deeper. On October 18, the Spanish government invoked Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, beginning the process of stripping the Catalan government of its autonomy and imposing the direct federal rule. Just hours after the announcement was made by the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, 450,000 people took to the streets in protest.

Citing the Catalan government&rsquo;s &ldquo;conscious and systematic rebellion and disobedience&rdquo;, this is a heavy-handed response to Catalonia&rsquo;s recent separatist moves. Spain hardened its line when it jailed the leaders of two of the largest separatist organisations. The national attorney general has now threatened to arrest the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, and others for sedition should a further declaration of independence be issued.

These tough measures aren&rsquo;t just politically risky and pragmatically dubious, but also constitutionally untested. It is the first time that Article 155 has been invoked, allowing the government to intervene in one of Spain&rsquo;s regions if its autonomous government &ldquo;fails to fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws or acts in a way seriously prejudicing the general interests of Spain&rdquo;.

The Constitution of 1978 provides for a flexible and open framework that recognises both &ldquo;the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation&rdquo; and &ldquo;the right to autonomy of nationalities and regions&rdquo;. And while the Catalan government&rsquo;s decision to hold the October 1 referendum undoubtedly violated both the Spanish Constitution and the Catalan Statute of Autonomy, the refusal of the central government to pursue dialogue with the Catalan government, and its attempts to oust democratically elected leaders and suspend regional autonomy will only deepen the antagonism between Catalonia and Madrid.

The question, then, is what an appropriate and reasonable response to this secession claim would look like. And inconveniently, this is something of a grey area.

Taking independence seriously

While international law affirms that peoples have a general right to self-determination, it provides little guidance on how that right should be exercised. It&rsquo;s particularly vague when it comes to secession, which leaves claims like the Catalans&rsquo; in something of a legal vacuum. In its Kosovo opinion of 2010, the International Court of Justice found that a unilateral declaration of independence does &ldquo;not violate general international law&rdquo;, but the specific international or domestic legal ramifications of a secessionist claim were left unclear.

The upshot is that different national governments can treat these claims almost as they see fit. The resulting ambiguity is a tricky problem, and it&rsquo;s played out vividly in two analogous independence movements: Quebec&rsquo;s and Scotland&rsquo;s.

In 1995, the Quebecois independence movement lost a referendum on independence by a mere 1.16 per cent. The result kicked off years of political talks and legal wrangling, and in 1998, the Supreme Court of Canada weighed in on whether secession claims were legitimate in principle.

It concluded that outside of a colonial context and in the absence of severe repression or exclusion from the state, there is no positive entitlement to claim statehood. But it also found that the Canadian state, at least on the basis of its own constitutional law, could not &ldquo;remain indifferent to the clear expression of a clear majority of Quebecers that they no longer wish to remain in Canada&rdquo;. Crucially, the court noted that under the Canadian constitution, the government has a duty to negotiate. Were it to refuse, that could undermine its claim to legitimacy, which could have international ramifications.

Following this logic were Quebec to vote for independence in some future referendum, that would impose a duty on the federal government and the province alike to enter into negotiations in good faith &ndash; though there would be no specific obligation to conclude the negotiations amicably.

Then there&rsquo;s Scotland. The UK Government took a similar approach to Canada, passing the Edinburgh Agreement in 2012, which granted Scottish nationalists legal authority to stage an independence referendum. They duly did so in 2014. And while that vote ultimately endorsed the status quo, had a majority been in favour of independence, it was largely accepted that the result would have been binding.

Refuse and reject

The Spanish government has chosen to pursue a different course. While the vast majority of Catalans wanted to vote in a referendum, the central authorities have been steadfast in their refusal to allow a vote, or recognise the result, and are now refusing to engage in dialogue with the Catalan authorities.

This intransigence dates back to at least 2010 when the independence campaign emerged in response to a growing dissatisfaction with current constitutional arrangements, a centralisation of the distribution of competences, and the impact of the financial crisis. With the Spanish government not responding to requests for dialogue, the Catalan authorities have for years continually invoked a &ldquo;right to decide&rdquo;, derived from a broad reading of self-determination as the right to &ldquo;democratic management of public affairs&rdquo;.

Legally speaking, it&rsquo;s a stretch to argue that the principle of self-determination guarantees the right to hold a vote on secession. Nevertheless, the principle of free political participation and representation is clearly established under international law, and it could certainly provide the basis of a demand for dialogue and negotiation where there is broad public support for independence.

Given that there is also scope for seeking dialogue under the Spanish Constitution, this latest sabre-rattling by the Spanish government is unwarranted, as are its actions in recent weeks &ndash; threats to arrest Catalan mayors, interference with civic budgets, raids on newspaper office, and mass police deployment including excessive force used by the Spanish police in attempting to prevent the Referendum taking place. These all reinforce the secessionists&rsquo; narrative of repression by an anti-Catalan Spanish regime.

For the good of Spain as a whole, a collaborative and productive dialogue needs to begin. The Spanish government&rsquo;s actions have not yet crossed the threshold of repression that would grant the Catalans a so-called &ldquo;remedial right&rdquo; of independence under international law, but its intransigent, hardline approach is inflaming tensions to no end &ndash; and enhancing the credibility of the Catalan claim.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/spains-hard-line-on-catalonia-is-no-way-to-handle-a-serious-secession-crisis-86243" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

Photo Credit: EPA

The Spanish government is dealing with the Catalonian secession movement in entirely the wrong way, its intransigent, hardline approach is inflaming tensions to no end

Spain is facing its deepest constitutional crisis since the restoration of democracy in 1977, and it’s only getting deeper. On October 18, the Spanish government invoked Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, beginning the process of stripping the Catalan government of its autonomy and imposing the direct federal rule. Just hours after the announcement was made by the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, 450,000 people took to the streets in protest. Citing the Catalan government’s “conscious and systematic rebellion and disobedience”, this is a heavy-handed response to Catalonia’s recent separatist moves. Spain hardened its line when it jailed the leaders of two of the largest separatist organisations. The national attorney general has now threatened to arrest the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, and others for sedition should a further declaration of independence be issued. These tough measures aren’t just politically risky and pragmatically dubious, but also constitutionally untested. It is the first time that Article 155 has been invoked, allowing the government to intervene in one of Spain’s regions if its autonomous government “fails to fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws or acts in a way seriously prejudicing the general interests of Spain”. The Constitution of 1978 provides for a flexible and open framework that recognises both “the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation” and “the right to autonomy of nationalities and regions”. And while the Catalan government’s decision to hold the October 1 referendum undoubtedly violated both the Spanish Constitution and the Catalan Statute of Autonomy, the refusal of the central government to pursue dialogue with the Catalan government, and its attempts to oust democratically elected leaders and suspend regional autonomy will only deepen the antagonism between Catalonia and Madrid. The question, then, is what an appropriate and reasonable response to this secession claim would look like. And inconveniently, this is something of a grey area. Taking independence seriously While international law affirms that peoples have a general right to self-determination, it provides little guidance on how that right should be exercised. It’s particularly vague when it comes to secession, which leaves claims like the Catalans’ in something of a legal vacuum. In its Kosovo opinion of 2010, the International Court of Justice found that a unilateral declaration of independence does “not violate general international law”, but the specific international or domestic legal ramifications of a secessionist claim were left unclear. The upshot is that different national governments can treat these claims almost as they see fit. The resulting ambiguity is a tricky problem, and it’s played out vividly in two analogous independence movements: Quebec’s and Scotland’s. In 1995, the Quebecois independence movement lost a referendum on independence by a mere 1.16 per cent. The result kicked off years of political talks and legal wrangling, and in 1998, the Supreme Court of Canada weighed in on whether secession claims were legitimate in principle. It concluded that outside of a colonial context and in the absence of severe repression or exclusion from the state, there is no positive entitlement to claim statehood. But it also found that the Canadian state, at least on the basis of its own constitutional law, could not “remain indifferent to the clear expression of a clear majority of Quebecers that they no longer wish to remain in Canada”. Crucially, the court noted that under the Canadian constitution, the government has a duty to negotiate. Were it to refuse, that could undermine its claim to legitimacy, which could have international ramifications. Following this logic were Quebec to vote for independence in some future referendum, that would impose a duty on the federal government and the province alike to enter into negotiations in good faith – though there would be no specific obligation to conclude the negotiations amicably. Then there’s Scotland. The UK Government took a similar approach to Canada, passing the Edinburgh Agreement in 2012, which granted Scottish nationalists legal authority to stage an independence referendum. They duly did so in 2014. And while that vote ultimately endorsed the status quo, had a majority been in favour of independence, it was largely accepted that the result would have been binding. Refuse and reject The Spanish government has chosen to pursue a different course. While the vast majority of Catalans wanted to vote in a referendum, the central authorities have been steadfast in their refusal to allow a vote, or recognise the result, and are now refusing to engage in dialogue with the Catalan authorities. This intransigence dates back to at least 2010 when the independence campaign emerged in response to a growing dissatisfaction with current constitutional arrangements, a centralisation of the distribution of competences, and the impact of the financial crisis. With the Spanish government not responding to requests for dialogue, the Catalan authorities have for years continually invoked a “right to decide”, derived from a broad reading of self-determination as the right to “democratic management of public affairs”. Legally speaking, it’s a stretch to argue that the principle of self-determination guarantees the right to hold a vote on secession. Nevertheless, the principle of free political participation and representation is clearly established under international law, and it could certainly provide the basis of a demand for dialogue and negotiation where there is broad public support for independence. Given that there is also scope for seeking dialogue under the Spanish Constitution, this latest sabre-rattling by the Spanish government is unwarranted, as are its actions in recent weeks – threats to arrest Catalan mayors, interference with civic budgets, raids on newspaper office, and mass police deployment including excessive force used by the Spanish police in attempting to prevent the Referendum taking place. These all reinforce the secessionists’ narrative of repression by an anti-Catalan Spanish regime. For the good of Spain as a whole, a collaborative and productive dialogue needs to begin. The Spanish government’s actions have not yet crossed the threshold of repression that would grant the Catalans a so-called “remedial right” of independence under international law, but its intransigent, hardline approach is inflaming tensions to no end – and enhancing the credibility of the Catalan claim. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Photo Credit: EPA

Catalonia: Spain's hard line is no way to handle a secession crisis

Catalan separatists Monday threatened &quot;mass civil disobedience&quot; against the Spanish government if it fulfills its vow to depose the region`s secessionist leader to stifle his drive for independence.

Firefighters, teachers, and students weighed into the dispute, warning of strikes and protests, at the start of a crucial week in Spain`s deepest political crisis in decades.

Madrid has said it will suspend the powers of the semi-autonomous region, where separatist leaders held a banned independence referendum on October 1.

Catalonia`s separatist parties announced they would hold a full session on Thursday to decide their response.

That could be an opportunity for the region to follow through on threats to declare unilateral independence from Spain, a prospect that has raised fears of unrest.

The Senate is set to suspend the territory`s limited self-rule in a meeting expected Friday.

Spain`s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Catalan President Carles Puigdemont will be out of a job as soon as this weekend.

&quot;He will no longer be able to sign anything, he will no longer be able to take decisions, he will no longer receive a salary,&quot; Saenz de Santamaria told radio Onda Cero.The far-left Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), which backs Puigdemont`s coalition, said Madrid`s post-referendum clampdown was the &quot;biggest assault&quot; against the Catalan people since the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

Franco -- who ruled from 1939 until 1975 -- suppressed Catalonia`s autonomy, language, and culture.

&quot;This assault will receive a response in the form of massive civil disobedience,&quot; the CUP, a key regional power broker, said in a statement.

Lluis Corominas, spokesman of the Together for Yes ruling coalition, meanwhile urged a &quot;peaceful and democratic defence of Catalan institutions&quot;.

He branded the Spanish response to the independence drive &quot;a case of unprecedented institutional violence&quot;.Catalan firefighters hinted they may offer resistance in the dispute by refusing to obey orders from national authorities. 
&quot;It depends on what they ask us to do. If there is a road that is blocked and they send us to unblock it, maybe we won`t go,&quot; said a spokesman for a firefighter association associated to the separatist movement.

Teachers called a protest march for Thursday, and students said they will go on strike from that day.

Half a million angry separatists took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday after Rajoy announced he would replace Puigdemont and his executive.

To do so, Madrid will use previously untested constitutional powers to stop Catalonia breaking away.Under Article 155 of the 1978 Spanish constitution, Madrid could take control of the Catalan police force and replace the heads of its public broadcaster.

Political analysts warn that Madrid faces a serious struggle in practical terms to impose control over the region, especially if civil servants refuse to obey orders from central authorities. 
&nbsp;

Firefighters, teachers, and students weighed into the dispute, warning of strikes and protests, at the start of a crucial week in Spain`s deepest political crisis in decades.

Catalan separatists Monday threatened "mass civil disobedience" against the Spanish government if it fulfills its vow to depose the region`s secessionist leader to stifle his drive for independence. Firefighters, teachers, and students weighed into the dispute, warning of strikes and protests, at the start of a crucial week in Spain`s deepest political crisis in decades. Madrid has said it will suspend the powers of the semi-autonomous region, where separatist leaders held a banned independence referendum on October 1. Catalonia`s separatist parties announced they would hold a full session on Thursday to decide their response. That could be an opportunity for the region to follow through on threats to declare unilateral independence from Spain, a prospect that has raised fears of unrest. The Senate is set to suspend the territory`s limited self-rule in a meeting expected Friday. Spain`s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Catalan President Carles Puigdemont will be out of a job as soon as this weekend. "He will no longer be able to sign anything, he will no longer be able to take decisions, he will no longer receive a salary," Saenz de Santamaria told radio Onda Cero.The far-left Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), which backs Puigdemont`s coalition, said Madrid`s post-referendum clampdown was the "biggest assault" against the Catalan people since the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Franco -- who ruled from 1939 until 1975 -- suppressed Catalonia`s autonomy, language, and culture. "This assault will receive a response in the form of massive civil disobedience," the CUP, a key regional power broker, said in a statement. Lluis Corominas, spokesman of the Together for Yes ruling coalition, meanwhile urged a "peaceful and democratic defence of Catalan institutions". He branded the Spanish response to the independence drive "a case of unprecedented institutional violence".Catalan firefighters hinted they may offer resistance in the dispute by refusing to obey orders from national authorities. "It depends on what they ask us to do. If there is a road that is blocked and they send us to unblock it, maybe we won`t go," said a spokesman for a firefighter association associated to the separatist movement. Teachers called a protest march for Thursday, and students said they will go on strike from that day. Half a million angry separatists took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday after Rajoy announced he would replace Puigdemont and his executive. To do so, Madrid will use previously untested constitutional powers to stop Catalonia breaking away.Under Article 155 of the 1978 Spanish constitution, Madrid could take control of the Catalan police force and replace the heads of its public broadcaster. Political analysts warn that Madrid faces a serious struggle in practical terms to impose control over the region, especially if civil servants refuse to obey orders from central authorities.

Catalan separatists vow disobedience as Spain standoff mounts

Las Palmas wore Spanish flags on their shirts for Sunday&#39;s La Liga clash at Barcelona -- the match was played behind closed doors --&nbsp;as shocking political events in Catalonia on Sunday overshadow action on the field.&nbsp;

Barcelona won the game 4-1.&nbsp;

Spanish riot police fired rubber bullets and forced their way into activist-held polling stations in Catalonia as thousands attempted to vote in an independence referendum deemed illegal by the Spanish government.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>We have decided to embroider on our shirt a small Spanish flag and today&#39;s date, October 1, to quietly demonstrate our hope in the future of this country, and in the goodwill of those who live in it, in search of the best understanding,&#39; Las Palmas said in a statement</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=We have decided to embroider on our shirt a small Spanish flag and today's date, October 1, to quietly demonstrate our hope in the future of this country, and in the goodwill of those who live in it, in search of the best understanding,' Las Palmas said in a statement" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

&quot;We have decided to embroider on our shirt a small Spanish flag and today&#39;s date, October 1, to quietly demonstrate our hope in the future of this country, and in the goodwill of those who live in it, in search of the best understanding,&quot; Las Palmas said in a statement.

Barca have long supported Catalonia&#39;s right for a vote on independence, without throwing their weight behind the yes or no camp.

Last week the club released a strongly-worded statement condemning arrests of regional Catalan government figures in &quot;the defence of the nation, to democracy, to freedom of speech, and to self-determination&quot;.

However, Las Palmas criticised Barca&#39;s stance for heightening the tension around the match should it go ahead.

&quot;Today Las Palmas pay a visit on an unprecedented day for our country, a day in which the Catalan government have decided to celebrate a referendum against Spanish law, with all the international exposure that events in the Camp Nou will have,&quot; continued Las Palmas&#39; statement.

&quot;The public statements in recent days, especially those of our hosts FC Barcelona, have converted this La Liga match into something more than a mere sporting spectacle.&quot;

Outspoken Barca defender Gerard Pique posted a picture of him casting his vote early on Sunday morning.

&quot;I have voted. Together we are unstoppable defending democracy,&quot; said Pique.

Legendary Barca midfielder Xavi Hernandez, who currently plays for Qatari side Al Sadd, also posted a video on social media describing the events as &quot;shameful.&quot;

&quot;It is unacceptable that in a democratic country people cannot vote,&quot; added Xavi.

And former Barca captain Carles Puyol added his support for the referendum by posting &quot;To vote is democracy!&quot; on his Twitter account.

Las Palmas wore Spanish flags on their shirts for Sunday's La Liga clash at Barcelona -- the match was played behind closed doors -- as shocking political events in Catalonia on Sunday overshadow action on the field. Barcelona won the game 4-1. Spanish riot police fired rubber bullets and forced their way into activist-held polling stations in Catalonia as thousands attempted to vote in an independence referendum deemed illegal by the Spanish government. We have decided to embroider on our shirt a small Spanish flag and today's date, October 1, to quietly demonstrate our hope in the future of this country, and in the goodwill of those who live in it, in search of the best understanding,' Las Palmas said in a statement × "We have decided to embroider on our shirt a small Spanish flag and today's date, October 1, to quietly demonstrate our hope in the future of this country, and in the goodwill of those who live in it, in search of the best understanding," Las Palmas said in a statement. Barca have long supported Catalonia's right for a vote on independence, without throwing their weight behind the yes or no camp. Last week the club released a strongly-worded statement condemning arrests of regional Catalan government figures in "the defence of the nation, to democracy, to freedom of speech, and to self-determination". However, Las Palmas criticised Barca's stance for heightening the tension around the match should it go ahead. "Today Las Palmas pay a visit on an unprecedented day for our country, a day in which the Catalan government have decided to celebrate a referendum against Spanish law, with all the international exposure that events in the Camp Nou will have," continued Las Palmas' statement. "The public statements in recent days, especially those of our hosts FC Barcelona, have converted this La Liga match into something more than a mere sporting spectacle." Outspoken Barca defender Gerard Pique posted a picture of him casting his vote early on Sunday morning. "I have voted. Together we are unstoppable defending democracy," said Pique. Legendary Barca midfielder Xavi Hernandez, who currently plays for Qatari side Al Sadd, also posted a video on social media describing the events as "shameful." "It is unacceptable that in a democratic country people cannot vote," added Xavi. And former Barca captain Carles Puyol added his support for the referendum by posting "To vote is democracy!" on his Twitter account.

Football: Las Palmas wear Spanish flag against Barca