Two factions of the abertzale left, EH Bildu and GKS radicals, will lead rival marches in Bilbao this afternoon before the friendly match between Euskal Selekzioa and Palestine at San Mamés. The Ertzaintza fears disturbances like those in October in Vitoria, as the Basque Government aims to revitalize its national team. The event combines support for Palestine with independentist claims.
The friendly match between Euskal Selekzioa and Palestine, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. at San Mamés stadium in Bilbao, will serve as a stage for a show of strength between abertzale left sectors. Presided over by lehendakari Imanol Pradales, the event combines support for Palestine with promotion of Basque 'national' sports teams. The Basque Football Federation, backed by the Spanish one and the Basque Government, sees it as a springboard to revitalize the struggling team, within a PNV-driven 'agenda for officiality'.
This afternoon, Bilbao's city center streets will be gridlocked by two rival 'kalejiras'. EH Bildu, led by Arnaldo Otegi, mobilizes supporters via a march called by the Gernika-Palestina platform, whose spokesperson is former Jarrai leader Ibon Meñika. The call was made by Arkaitz Rodríguez, Otegi's 'heir', who wore a 'Euskal Herria' shield t-shirt. The team officially uses 'Euskal Selekzioa' since 2008, after players boycotted the 'Euskadi' name in a match against Iran.
Rodríguez has urged 'peaceful' participation and maintains contact with the Ertzaintza to prevent incidents. However, shortly after, radical groups from Basque football clubs, backed by Gazte Koordinadora Sozialista (GKS), will stage their own display without explicit violence, but to assert leadership among young abertzales. They include ultras from Herri Norte, Iñigo Cabacas Herri Harmaila, Iraultza, Bultzada, and Indar Gorri, planning a 'tifo' in the stands and anticipating tension upon leaving the stadium.
Security Counselor Bingen Zupiria voiced fears of repeats of the October 12 clashes in Vitoria, where about 500 hooded youths attacked Falange supporters and police with stones and bottles. GKS also took part in assaults in Pamplona against National Police and a journalist during 'antifascist' protests. Palestinarekin Elkartasuna accuses Zupiria of 'criminalizing' their march to heighten tension. The ultra groups assure they will act with 'normality', despite a history of confrontations in Bilbao, San Sebastián, Vitoria, and Pamplona.