Spanish prime minister calls for Israel to be banned from sports events after chaos at cycling race

[mastercode]

BOOK INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TICKETS LOCAL FLIGHTS HOTELS BOOKINGS WORLDWIDE AND MORE AT CHEAPEST RATE EVER! CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT AND RECEIVE YOUR FLIGHT TICKET INSTANTLY

Spanish prime minister calls for Israel to be banned from sports events after chaos at cycling race

Protesters block the road in an attempt to disrupt the twenty-first stage of the Spanish cycling race La Vuelta, from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernández)

2025-09-15T09:13:13Z

                                       

MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called for Israel to be banned from sports events after pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the final stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race in chaotic scenes in Madrid.

Speaking to members of his Socialist Party, Sánchez said Israel, just like Russia, should be boycotted from international sports events because of its military campaign in Gaza.

“Until the barbarity ends, neither Russia nor Israel should be in any international competition,” Sánchez said. “The sports organizations should consider whether it’s ethical for Israel to keep participating in international competitions. Why expel Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and not expel Israel after the invasion of Gaza?”

Sánchez spoke a day after Sunday’s final stage had to be cut short after protesters threw barriers onto the road and clashed with police near the finish line in the Spanish capital.

___

AP cycling:         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/hub/cycling">https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

                                   
                               
                           

                           
                   
                   
                   

                   
                   
   
       
           
               
   
       
           
               
                   
     
   

   
   
       

   

   
       

   
    >



               
           
       
   

   
       
           
                TALES AZZONI
           
       

       
           
                Azzoni is a sports reporter based in Madrid in charge of Spain and Portugal for The Associated Press. He has covered multiple World Cups and Olympic Games for the AP, as well as other major sporting events worldwide.
           
       
       
       
           
               
                   
                       
   
   
       
           
       
   
   
        twitter
   


                   
                       
   
   
       
           
       
   
   
        mailto
   

Source: Spanish prime minister calls for Israel to be banned from sports events after chaos at cycling race