Madrid: Spain's Ministry of Social Rights has asked the country's prosecutor's office to investigate Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, after he allegedly hired dwarf entertainers to perform at his 18th birthday party.
On Sunday, Yamal had hosted a party at a rented property in Olivella, a small town 50 kilometres north west of Barcelona, where among the guests were YouTubers, influencers and several Barcelona team-mates.
It is alleged Yamal hired a group of dwarf entertainers, something the Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias in Spain (ADEE) described as "unacceptable in the 21st century", reported BBC Sport.
When contacted by BBC Sport, the Directorate General for People with Disabilities - part of the Ministry of Social Rights, ConsumerAffairs, and 2030 Agenda - said: "ADEE has filed a legal complaint."
"Therefore, this Directorate General has asked the Prosecutor's Office to investigate to determine whether the law and, therefore, the rights of people with disabilities have been violated."
Meanwhile, the ADEE has publicly denounced the hiring of dwarf people for entertainment, saying it would take legal action as it "perpetuates stereotypes, fuels discrimination and undermines the image and rights" of people with disabilities.
However, in an interview with Spanish radio station RAC1, one of the entertainers who claimed to be present at the party, defended Yamal.
"No-one disrespected us, we worked in peace," said the artist, who asked to remain anonymous.
"We work as entertainers. Why can't we do it? Because of our physical condition?
"I don't understand why there's so much hype. We're normal people, who do what we want, in an absolutely legal way," he added.
