Valencia fans detained in Singapore over football protest

After protesting against the Taiwanese owner of the soccer team they support, a Hispanic couple on their wedding in Singapore was taken into custody.

Dani Cuesta took pictures of himself holding a symbol criticizing the business tycoon outside Peter Lim’s home, the billionaire owner of Valencia FC.

According to Valencia Mayor Mara José Catalá, their passports were confiscated as they attempted to leave Singapore airports on Friday, Mr. Cuesta and his companion Mireia Sáez were stopped and had their passports taken, according to Spanish television place Onda Cero.

It is questionable what charges the set mouth, if any, but the problem will get resolved afterwards on Wednesday, the BBC understands.

Singapore has some of the country’s strictest regulations on public council, which includes assemblies even of one individual.

These laws, according to the state, are necessary to uphold order and health.

In 2020, a Singaporean activist who had long campaigned for freedom of speech was arrested for posing with a placard of a smiley face.

Mr. Cuesta posted on X shortly after arriving in Singapore on Thursday that he would “take some pictures with my wonderful flag,” which read” Lim Go Home.”

Valencia fans are incredibly unpopular with Mr. Lim because they have witnessed their team’s fortunes drastically decline over the course of his ten-year career.

Mr. Cuesta posted a number of pictures of himself holding the golden banner at various tourist locations in Singapore in an effort to be inspired by online users.

Another photograph shows him outside of the alleged comfort residence in Singapore where Mr. Lim resided.

A picture he posted indicates Mr Cuesta placing a yellow sticker reading” Lim out”, a common sight in the city of Valencia, on the residence’s wall.

The videos fast gained widespread support from Valencians, and on Thursday, Mr. Cuesta also spoke with a podcast about the game.

He explained that he had a “lightbulb minute” when his wife suggested visiting Singapore and Bali and that he had chosen to purchase some stickers and a banner.

” We spent all morning going around Singapore, spending money on cars and putting a tags on lights. I said to her’ this is something we have to perform ‘”, Mr Cuesta told Tribuna Deportiva.

” Fortunately I have my passport and we’ll get flying to Bali tomorrow”, he added.

Mr. Cuesta had previously joked on X that he did not want to “end up in a Singapore jail because that’s not the way my getaway is going.”

The following morning, as they attempted to table a trip to Bali, Singapore government stopped Mr Cuesta and Ms Sáez, according to Valencia’s president.

“]The Spanish ambassador in Singapore] confirmed that two individuals had their passports taken away, according to an continued police research”, Ms Catalá told Hispanic television station Onda Cero.

They have not been informed of the murder under investigation. They may leave their resort but not the state”, she added.

Valencia CF, however, said it was aware of the situation of two of the league’s supporters in Singapore.

Valencia CF and La Liga are in contact with the Colonial ambassador in Singapore, who have assured us that both are being advised and assisted in everything needed to get this resolved as quickly as possible,” the team said in a statement.

The BBC requested comment from both the Singapore authorities and the Spanish Embassy.

One of Singapore’s richest people, Mr Lim purchased Valencia CF in 2014 and became the first international owner in the team’s story.

He swiftly lost popularity with fans as the group’s performances decreased and the league ran up enormous debts off the ball after an initial honeymoon period.

Valencia has always been a team that may compete for league and Western titles, but they now sit second-bottom in the league.

Mr. Lim has received particular criticism for his alleged association with Portuguese” very agent” Jorge Mendes and his alleged effect on the team’s hiring of players and coaches.

Gary Neville, a former goalkeeper for Manchester United, and Mr. Lim’s co-owner of English lower-league Salford City until earlier this year, are another associate of him.

Despite having no executive experience, Mr Neville was appointed Valencia’s mind coach in 2015 but was fired four months later after a fatal spell in demand.

Libertad VCF, a Valencia fan party, said in a speech it had” full support and solidarity” with the just married couple and called for them to be “freed soon”.

” Their freedom of movement has been violated, just for happily exercising their right to expression”, the statement added.