International sports

Lamine Yamal under investigation after his 18th birthday

The Spanish Government has requested prosecutors to investigate whether Lamine Yamal broke the law in hiring dwarves to work his 18th birthday party.

  • Barcelona starlet could be fined up to €1m
  • Government official says “the law applies to everyone”
  • Concerns behaviour will rub off on impressionable young fans

WHAT HAPPENED?

Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights has called on prosecutors and the Office for Combating Hate Crimes to investigate whether the country’s disability law has been violated. The law strictly prohibits acts which mock or denigrate people with disabilities. Reports suggest Yamal hired people with dwarfism to work at this 18th birthday party on Sunday.

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THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Director of General Disability, Jesus Martin, has called for an investigation, and spoken on the allegations in an interview with Spanish news agency EFE. Martin said he was concerned that “people with money, people with power, beleive they can go unpunished”. If Yamal is found to have broken the law, he faces a fine of up to €1 million; The Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism has threatened legal action against the Barcelona starlet.

WHAT MARTIN SAID

Martín said: “We are concerned that people with money, people with power, believe themselves to be unpunished. The law is for everyone, for the humble and for the powerful.

“Let the appropriate investigations be opened, and let action be taken based on the findings.”

He added he was concerned that “a young man with so many followers, an influencer for young people, would throw these kinds of parties, which could have a knock-on effect on youth.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?

The youngster will be hoping to focus on his football, as he and his Barcelona teammates have returned to pre-season training ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. This story is likely to rumble on however, as other allegations of behaviour relating to the party have hit the headlines.

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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