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ESPN staff 8y

Barcelona mayor slams Espanyol fans' Shakira banner; Messi banner seen

Barcelona mayor Ada Colau has slammed Espanyol fans for displaying a derogatory banner targeting pop star Shakira in Barcelona's 2-0 Copa del Rey win on Wednesday.

Shakira is the partner of Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, who had mocked Espanyol fans' "marvellous minority" moniker in the aftermath of the two sides' round of 16 first-leg tie at Camp Nou, wondering aloud if they could fill their stadium for the return fixture.

During Wednesday's second leg, Espanyol supporters responded by unfurling a banner reading "Shakira es de todos" (Shakira is everyone's), incensing the city's female mayor Colau. 

"To look at it damages your eyes," Colau told RAC1 on Thursday. "I find it horrible.

"There are certain macho cultural values that can generate macho violence."

Espanyol fans displayed an additional banner, reading "Pau, your foot shows us the way," praising club goalkeeper Pau Lopez for what appeared to be an intentional stomp on the left leg of Barcelona star Lionel Messi during the first-leg tie -- an action that caused the Argentine to angrily confront Lopez before being separated by Luis Suarez. 

For his part, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, despite not seeing the banners, called for the officials responsible for the match to ensure measures would be taken over the banners.

"I haven't seen [the banners] but they told me about them," Bartomeu told Sport.

"It's what we talked about [before the game], the referee will have to take note and add it to his report."

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